The Ecuadorian tuna vessel “Dominador†(Dominator), owned by INEPACA, which left the port of Manta, Ecuador last September 28th, sank three days later in front of the Ecuador North province of Esmeraldas with 16 crewmembers on board.
Eight survivors managed to remain drifting on board a life-boat for 32 hours after the sinking of the “Dominador†until an Australian flagged vessel rescued them. On October 4th the eight fishermen arrived back to Manta.
According to the Manta Port Authority, the depth of the waters where the vessel sank is about 3,546 meters.
The Ecuadorian Army continued search operations to find the other 8 missing crew members of the Dominador, until last Wednesday October 11th. Also two tuna vessels belonging to the INEPACA fleet, “Tarqui†and “El Dorado†collaborated in the search operation.
The missing crewmembers’ families requested that the search continue until the bodies were found.
INEPACA spokesman informed that the company will compensate the families. However, according to the effective Ecuadorian laws, the relatives might have to wait for a period of 2 years to receive compensations if the bodies of the disappeared crewmembers are not found.
A Civil Court must determine and publish in the Official Registry the assumed death of the missing persons.
The manager of the INEPACA tuna fleet, Mr. Patricio Velazquez, assured that the insurance company will provide financial compensation to the families if the missing crewmembers are declared deceased.
Mr. Velazquez denied allegations that the INEPACA tuna boat “Dominador†was in bad conditions to sail at high sea. The vessel was in perfect condition. He said that “such a negative statement would be distrusting to the efficiency of the Ecuadorian Army’s activities, since this entity verifies and inspects the vessels to certify their optimal conditionsâ€.
Two representatives of the missing crew are traveling to the Colombian Port of Tumaco in search for clues regarding the reason for the sinking of the “Dominadorâ€.