by Joshua Seemungal (Trinidad Guardian) The bodies of three of the four missing crew members of the St Vincentian vessel, MV Fair Chance, have been recovered by the Coast Guard, 16 days after the vessel overturned five nautical miles in the Gulf of Paria off Monos Island.
However, divers say the fourth was “unaccounted for” after searching Monday.
The recovery team, involving Coast Guard and commercial professionals, managed to get the vessel afloat Sunday morning, after other efforts to recover the bodies failed.
The Coast Guard issued a statement last night stating that cargo and other debris had blocked the hatches and doorways, delaying their attempts to recover the bodies.
The Coast Guard said a commercial salvage company was hired to assist with cutting a hole in the deck so that access could be gained.
It said the hole was cut but divers from neither the Coast Guard nor the commercial company could force their way in through the cargo and debris that blocked access to the accommodation areas of the vessel.
