T&T: Vessel with human remains presumed lost at sea

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – A pirogue carrying the decomposing remains of five unidentified individuals is believed to have sunk while being towed to Trinidad, according to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG).

While the circumstances surrounding the vessel remain unclear, including the cause of death of those on board, the TTCG said the pirogue bore a “striking resemblance” to a boat discovered off the coast of Tobago in May 2021, which reportedly drifted from West Africa with migrants on board.

The Coast Guard received reports of the vessel on Saturday around 2:22 p.m., after it was spotted near the Cassia platform. It appeared to contain the remains of five people. A TTCG patrol boat was dispatched and located the vessel with assistance from nearby boats.

Efforts to secure the vessel proved challenging due to its poor condition, but by 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, a towline was successfully attached. While towing the vessel toward mainland Trinidad, the towline detached around 4 a.m. in waters east of Mayaro. The vessel then disappeared and could not be located despite extensive search efforts.

“It is presumed that the vessel sank due to its severely deteriorated state and the prevailing sea conditions,” the TTCG said in a statement. “Based on these similarities, it is reasonable to assume that the circumstances surrounding this case may be of a similar nature.”

While it is presumed that the vessel succumbed due to its deteriorated state, the Coast Guard has still urged anyone with information or sightings of the vessel or related debris to contact their headquarters at 868-224-3324.