The Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) Coast Guard rescued over a dozen people after a fishing vessel caught fire near Portland Point on Friday; however, one missing man is feared dead.
The fisherman, who is believed to have drowned, has not yet been identified by name. It is not yet clear if the man was a Jamaican national, as the vessel was carrying nine Dominican nationals and eight Jamaican nationals aboard.
According to reports, the crew departed from Harbour View for the Pedro Banks, and the HMJS Norman Manley later spotted a vessel on fire just before 12 p.m., about 14 nautical miles south of Portland Point. It’s unclear what started the fire or if the crew had mechanical issues before departing.
The Norman Manley was subsequently rigged as a fireboat and commenced operations to extinguish the blaze. Norman Manley’s crew launched the vessel’s small boat to search for survivors while fighting the fire.
Sixteen people were subsequently found on three small canoes, and they were taken on board. After being hydrated, they were later transported to the mainland to receive further medical treatment.
The JDF has requested that members of the public immediately report any signs of the missing crew member on the south coast to the JRCC Kingston.
