The ACSM Ártabro offshore vessel controversially left Vigo on 17 May with 41 people on board. This will be the mother ship that will be in charge of locating the remains of the Villa de Pitanxo, which sank about 300 miles from Newfoundland on February 15, 2022, and which has two ROVs (remote operated vehicles) to inspect the wreckage. ,
But before proceeding with these tasks it will first visit the Canadian port of St. Johns, as FARO has been able to confirm. This is the same dock where the fishing boat Playa Menduina dos landed the three survivors of the shipwreck and recovered the bodies.
“Pitanxo” mission: an unusual light in the dark
There it would involve more judicial experts, possibly in coordination with the Commission for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents and Incidents (Ciaim). When the ship left the port of Vigo, it did so with a Ciaim technician, a representative of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) as an observer, and another expert appointed by Directive No. 2 of the Central Court of National Justice. , This is the room that directs the investigation of the disaster.
Directing “Artabro”, Heading to Canada
But he did so without informing Magistrate Ismael Moreno, despite the first two previous proceedings, leading to severe reprimands from both the judge, the Ministry of Transport and SIAM. In this regard, the portfolio headed by Raquel Sanchez pointed to the fact that the commission is completely independent, and that it could not interfere in the process. New experts have flown to Canada to participate in the Pesquerías Nores Marín vessel search, location and inspection mission.
The ship’s captain, Juan Enrique Padín, is charged with 21 crimes for gross negligence, against workers’ rights, document falsification and cover-up. So the ship is the master. The previous passport was taken back.
