MACAPÁ-AMAPÁ, BRAZIL - The Navy released images on Thursday (6) of the rescue of three crew members of a fishing boat that were adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Amapá, in the northern region of Brazil.
During the rescue, the fishermen reported that the vessel had suffered a fuel system failure.
The call for help was made after one of the fishermen, aged 52, suffered from heart problems.
After the rescue, the crew member, who was feeling unwell, was treated by the doctor on board the Patrol Vessel “Bocaina”, based in Belém (PA).
According to the Navy, the vessel was not authorized to sail on the high seas.
The boat had left Oiapoque on February 21st, bound for the municipality of Vigia (PA).
On February 28th, the boat was left adrift after the damage.
The damaged part was replaced and the voyage continued.
However, on March 2nd, the vessel had engine problems again, leaving it adrift again, approximately 280 kilometers from Macapá.
The ship “Bocaina” was called immediately after the fishing boat’s distress call, and left the Val de Cães Naval Base in Belém (PA) shortly before midnight on March 3rd.
After approximately 30 hours of sailing, the “Bocaina” intercepted the adrift vessel.
The fishing boat was towed to the headquarters of the Amapá Harbor Authority in the city of Santana (AP).
The Port Authority of Amapá reported that it has opened an inquiry to investigate the causes and responsibilities for the incident.

Source: Amazon Agency /Brazilian Navy