VESSEL ASSISTED BY SCANDINAVIAN VESSEL CARRYING`HANSA’ BODIES

Clyde Coastguard received a non-urgent call from the Spanish fishing vessel ‘Serra Nohevia’ at just after 8:50 p.m. on 6 March 2001, after it had suffered engine failure while fishing out of Killybeggs, Donegal, Western Ireland.

The16 man crew of Spanish nationality reported severe weather conditions in the area and requested a tow back to port in Killybeggs. Clyde Coastguard put out a relay and the two Scandinavian vessels ‘Tronduri Goetu’ and ‘Tronderblast’, involved in the recovery of ‘Hansa’ crew, responded. The two vessels were on route to the West of Ireland with towing facilities on board and were on scene by 8:30 a.m. on 7 March.

The two vessels were carrying the bodies of 4 and 2 ‘Hansa’ crewmen respectively and were due to rendezvous with a Southern Irish Naval Vessel ‘Le Roisin’ to transfer the bodies when the relay for ‘Serra Nohevia’ came through. Clyde Coastguard then requested that ‘Le Roisin’ standby ‘Serra Nohevia’ through the night until the two Scandinavian vessels were on scene.

Bill Spiers, Deputy District Controller at Clyde Coastguard said, "‘Serra Nohevia’ is now under tow by ‘Tronderbras’ and is heading for the port of Killibeggs, Its estimated time of arrival is at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning (8 March)."

Meanwhile, the owners of the sunken trawler ‘Hansa’ are set to investigate the cause of the tragedy.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "As the incident happened in international waters and no British nationals were on board, then the investigation is the responsibility of the owners."

A spokesman for Stornoway Shipping Services, the sunken vessel's agents, declined to comment on the incident.

The company handles Spanish, French, Faroese, Norwegian, Dutch, Danish, Irish, German and English vessels.