Coast Guard: Vessel With FIVE (5) Decomposing Bodies Spotted Near Trinidad; Towline Breaks, Boat Sinks

The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard said at approximately 2:22 PM on Saturday (25th January, 2025), its Operations Room received a report regarding the sighting of an unidentified vessel near the Cassia platform.

In a Media Release today (Sunday 26th January, 2025), the Coast Guard said the vessel “appeared to contain the remains of five (5) unidentified individuals. The cause of death of these individuals is unknown. In response, the Coast Guard dispatched a patrol boat to the area, which successfully located the vessel with assistance from nearby boats.”

At approximately 12:45 AM this morning, the crew of the Coast Guard patrol boat managed to secure a towline to the vessel. The Coast Guard said this proved challenging due to the vessel's deteriorated condition. Once the towline was secured, the patrol boat began towing the vessel toward mainland Trinidad. However, at approximately 4:00 AM, in an area East of Mayaro, the towline separated from the subject vessel, which subsequently disappeared from view. 

 

According to the Coast Guard, “Despite search efforts conducted over the following hours, the vessel could not be located. It is presumed that the vessel sank due to its severely deteriorated state and the prevailing sea conditions. Notably, the vessel’s construction bears a striking resemblance to a vessel found off the coast of Tobago in May 2021, which had reportedly drifted from West Africa with migrants on-board. Based on these similarities, it is reasonable to assume that the circumstances surrounding this case may be of a similar nature.”

The Media Release concluded by saying, “While it is presumed that the vessel succumbed due to its deteriorated state, any information or sightings of the vessel or related debris should be reported to the Coast Guard Headquarters at 868-224-3324.”

​More on this as it becomes available.

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