Authorities in Mauritania have arrested the captain and first officer of the Gambian-flagged factory ship Right Whale following a fatal collision that led to the sinking of the Mauritanian trawler Tafra 3 off Nouadhibou, leaving five crew members missing.
The incident occurred under calm weather and clear visibility conditions when Right Whale struck Tafra 3 on its starboard side while the Mauritanian vessel was engaged in fishing operations with its trawl cables extended. According to preliminary reports, the impact created a deep breach from the main deck through the hull, causing the freezer trawler to list to starboard before sinking stern-first in waters approximately 50 meters deep.
Of the 26 crew on board Tafra 3, 21 were rescued, including three Spanish nationals—two captains and one engineer—as well as a Russian crew member. The five missing are Mauritanian nationals, among them a ship’s officer. Rescue efforts were complicated by the speed of the sinking, which prevented full deployment of the life rafts, though some were later activated automatically via hydrostatic release.
The Gambian vessel remained afloat after the collision and rendered initial assistance before Mauritanian authorities detained its master and first officer. They are currently under investigation as prosecutors seek to determine responsibility for the accident.
Local maritime officials have not yet disclosed the precise cause of the collision. Investigators are examining whether failures in lookout, communication, or maneuvering contributed to the crash. The Mauritanian government has confirmed that a formal inquiry is underway, while international observers note the incident raises broader concerns over fishing vessel safety and navigational practices in busy West African waters.
Families of the missing seafarers continue to await updates as search and recovery operations proceed. Authorities have assured that all available resources are being deployed in the effort to locate the five Mauritanian crew still unaccounted for.
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