Calls To Establish Inquiry Into Fishermen Deaths

The Department of Transport has instructed officials to establish a Marine Court of Enquiry to report on the death of 11 fishermen at sea in May.

The fishermen were a part of 20 crew members who were on the MFV Lapanto when it sank of the coast of Hout Bay.

They were on the deep sea trawler, Lapanto, when it was seen capsizing and sinking quickly. The vessel belonged to Viking Fisheries, a subsidiary of the Sea Harvest Group.

While 9 of the 20 crew members were rescued from the sinking vessel by another trawler of the group, the remaining fishermen was declared missing at sea.

The transport ministry has now received notification from the South African Maritime Authority that a draft report into the tragedy has been completed.