Zunibal Saves lives at sea: a rescue 2,500 miles from the coast
In the world of tuna fishing, technology can be a crucial ally not only for finding the best fishing grounds but also for saving lives. The recent rescue of the crew of the tuna vessel Sea Gem is a striking example of how our technological solutions for sustainable tuna fishing have made a difference in an emergency situation.
On June 28th, the crew of the tuna vessel Sea Gem, owned by Ocean Trading International S.A., faced an emergency following an explosion on board, 2,500 miles off the Ecuadorian coast. Our Tuna 8 Explorer buoy, equipped with advanced technology, was essential in quickly locating the crew and coordinating a rescue operation.
Upon losing communication with Sea Gem, Ocean Trading International S.A. immediately contacted us. The crew abandoned the ship and took refuge in the life raft, taking our Tuna 8 Explorer buoy with them. Once activated, the buoy, equipped with satellite communication, transmitted the exact position of the raft to the Zunisea system, our comprehensive tuna fishing management tool. This system allowed us to quickly identify the closest vessels to the incident site and immediately alert four of them. The tuna vessel Daniela, owned by AACH Holding Co. LLC., arrived in less than three hours to bring the Sea Gem crew to safety.
Our CTO, Aitor Aizpurua, highlights the importance of technology and collaboration in critical situations, stating: “It is impressive and exciting to see how the technology and the human team at Zunibal are able to turn a fishing operation into a rescue mission in record time. A buoy’s position can be valuable information for finding a school of tuna, but a searched,triangulated, and shared position with nearby vessels as a result of an emergency analysis can be invaluable. Facilitating this rescue is a perfect reflection of how our solutions and our commitment to providing the best and closest service to the fishing community make a difference, as we have been doing for the past 30 years.“
The Sea Gem rescue not only underscores our technical capabilities but also our human and ethical commitment to maritime safety. The rapid and effective response to the emergency is a clear testament to the power of technology to protect and save lives. We will continue to work side by side with the fishing community to make every trip to sea safer and more efficient.
In addition to technological solutions for tropical tuna fishing, we offer a variety of rescue tools and solutions that allow for the control and tracking of vessels, providing support and rescue services in case of emergency.