Local
Local fishing vessel with five onboard missing
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 13, 2008 - 6:32:50 PM

The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are currently searching for a Maltese-registered fishing vessel which was reported as overdue by relatives on Saturday evening. There are five persons onboard the boat.

The fishing vessel Simshar which left Malta on Monday 7th July was expected back to port on Friday evening.

A communications search was initiated after 1900 CEST on Saturday after the family alerted the AFM. Italian coast radio stations in the area as well as Tunisian and Libyan authorities were also informed to be on th elookout.
 
The  AFM Air Wing's Islander aircraft has conducted two searches already. The first covered an area of 2100 square nautical miles, the second  is currently  underway which will cover a further 1800 square nautical miles.

Attempts to contact the fishing vessel by means of VHF  marine-radio and  satelite-telephone continue to prove fruitless. Search efforts will continue on Monday.