Intensive search for three missing men at sea suspended |24 November 2023
The search for the three men from Takamaka who went missing at sea since Wednesday, November 15, has been suspended, until local authorities receive further information that would be helpful.
This was announced during a press conference yesterday afternoon at the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) headquarters, at Trinity House.
Present to give details about the operation so far were the chief executive of SMSA,Captain Daniel Adam; the assistant superintendent and head of service delivery within the Seychelles Police Force, Marcus Jean; Major Hans Radegonde, director operations at the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and the deputy director of the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre (NISCC) Dominic Savy.
David Suzette, 61, from Takamaka, 37-year-old Hansley Denis, and Steve Burka, 36, both from Quatre Bornes went fishing aboard Gran Pye on November 15. Mr Suzette and his two friends left Anse Marie-Louise and headed to Pointe Capucin, which is their usual fishing spot, but due to reasons not yet known, they did not return home as expected the same day.
Speaking at the press conference Capt. Adam has called on members of the public to notify SMSA or SCG if they have any new information so that the needful can be done immediately to resume the search.
He added the authorities concerned have done a remarkable job in the search operation, with the assistance of many individuals, whom he has commended.
Major Radegonde said it has been a week since the relevant authorities started the search for Gran Pye and the three men, but until now only a red fuel tank was picked up at sea on Monday morning by one of the SCG’s patrol boats, in the south west of Mahé.
“From there, we sent other rescue vessels to see if we can find the boat itself, the crew members or anything else, but despite the intensive search done by the boats and plane nothing and no one was located so we decided to suspend the search until further information can be acquired,” he added.
Photos of the red tank were sent to the criminal investigation department. The tank was also identified by family members as well as a man who at times went fishing with the three missing individuals. A lot of resources have been used in the search and it was only when the red tank was found that the authorities got an indication as to where the boat could have gone missing.
Major Radegonde said this does not mean that the search has completely been abandoned, as SCG boats in these areas will still be on the lookout as well as vessels passing through, which have been called on to be vigilant.
Search has also been done around islands and people there have been advised to keep an eye out for the missing men in case they might have landed on these shores. The authorities have also informed the family members of all three on the decision taken to suspend the search, until further information can be acquired.