Working Conditions Aboard the Rightwhale

The factory ship 'Right Whale' has made its way back to its fishing grounds following a collision with the 'Tafra 3'. On the day of the incident, the vessel, captained by a Russian national, was cruising at speeds ranging from 4.8 to 7.3 knots. In a sudden turn of events, the ship's speed plummeted to 1.8 knots upon impact with the 'Tafra 3'. Remarkably, immediately after the collision, the 'Right Whale' regained speed, exceeding six knots shortly thereafter. According to data from the Global Fishing Watch initiative, which involves stakeholders such as Oceana, Google, and SkyTruth, the 'Right Whale' commenced its search efforts for the missing crew members around 8:55 p.m. UTC. The vessel docked at Nouadhibou in the wee hours of the following day, where local authorities apprehended both the captain and the first officer. Following a change in command, the ship was back out at sea, engaging in fishing operations less than 36 hours post-accident, departing again at 9:00 p.m. UTC (7:00 p.m. local time) and reaching speeds over 11 knots.

In a shocking incident off the coast of Mauritania, footage from the fishing vessel 'Right Whale' recorded the dramatic moment of a collision with the pelagic trawler 'Tafra 3'. The incident unfolded as the Lithuanian-owned 'Tafra 3', led by Russian captain Genaro Martínez of the Vigo-based company Baipesca, was engaged in trawling operations when the bow of 'Right Whale' collided with it, dragging the fishing vessel for nearly two minutes. Eyewitness accounts suggest that 'Right Whale' was traveling at speeds between 10-12 knots at the time of impact, rather than trawling. The startling clip shows crew members from 'Right Whale' scrambling onto the deck, likely alerted by the deafening crash that left a significant breach in the starboard side of 'Tafra 3'. The fishing vessel's rigging slats were visible on the stern, impacting its ability to maneuver effectively in the water. Alarmingly, at least two of the crew members stationed at the back, who were working on gear-harnessing, struggled to escape the chaotic scene, climbing into fish nets as they sought refuge. In the mayhem, they managed to don life jackets just before the danger escalated. Amid the calm waters of Mauritania, three life rafts were deployed, activated by hydrostatic bailing under pressure when the vessel had submerged. The collision took place at precisely 8:04:05 p.m., with the ships separating again by 8:06:15 p.m. Tragically, 'Tafra 3' began to sink stern first just 15 minutes later. While the Mauritanian authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, the captain of 'Right Whale' has been arrested following his police testimony. Javier Gestido, the skipper of 'Tafra 3' and a resident of Ardán (Marín), returned to the hotel where survivors were housed after recounting his experience. With guidance from consular services, arrangements for the crew's repatriation are underway, with one skipper scheduled to fly to the Canary Islands while the other remains in Mauritania for a few more days. The 'Right Whale', a Soviet-designed factory ship of the Pulkovsky Meridian-class, holds the capability to process 120 to 150 tons of pelagic species daily. The vessel has a complex history, having operated under various flags of convenience, including Georgia, Comoros, Cameroon, and Gambia, and was previously known as 'Pyotr Shafranov' or 'Coral'. For more details, watch the report with video: https://www.diariodeibiza.es/sociedad/2025/09/16/tafra-3-tuvo-tiempo-desplegar-121615266.html

Tragedy struck in Mauritanian waters on September 12, 2025, as the fishing trawler 'Tafra 3' (IMO: 9238727) collided with the fish factory ship 'Right Whale' at approximately 8:04 PM local time. The incident occurred near Nouadhibou, a region known for its joint fishing ventures involving Galician-Mauritanian partnerships. The 'Tafra 3' sustained significant damage to its starboard side, leading to a rapid sink after being pushed by the factory vessel for nearly two minutes. Of the 26 crew members aboard the 'Tafra 3', 21 individuals were rescued, including three Spaniards: skippers Javier Gestido and José Manuel Diz, both of whom reside in Morrazo, and the chief engineer from Huelva. Among the survivors, which include five Spaniards, one Ghanaian, one Senegalese, and 14 Mauritanians, seven crew members were reported injured, with one suffering a serious head wound requiring stitches. The rescue operation concluded at the port of Nouadhibou on September 13 at 6 AM, where those deemed fit were sheltered in a local hotel. Unfortunately, five Mauritanians, including one officer, remain unaccounted for. In the wake of the collision, two crew members from the 'Right Whale', one Spanish and one Russian, have been detained as authorities investigate the incident. The Mauritanian Coastguard deployed a patrol boat to the site of the tragedy and coordinated search and rescue (SAR) efforts, supported by local fishing vessels including 'Tafra 2' and 'Rimbal 5', alongside a Spanish helicopter requested by local officials. The 'Tafra 3', owned by Galician businessman Genaro Martínez and previously known as 'Praia de Loureiro' until 2001, was engaged in fishing activities at the time of the incident, working alongside other vessels from the same company, Baipesca, based in Vigo. Multitudes of reports, including photos and videos, have emerged covering this distressing event, highlighting the ongoing search efforts and the maritime community's response.