Five crew members escape uninjured

The five crew members of the Palma-based fishing boat Aguilica Segunda escaped uninjured when the trawler was involved in a collision with the ferry Manuel Azaña to the south west of Cala Figuera, near Andratx. The Regional Rescue Co-ordination Centre reported that the incident occurred at about noon yesterday, and the causes have not yet been determined. The fishing boat was trawling off Andratx when it was involved in the collision with the cargo and passenger ferry, which belongs to the company Balearia and was heading for the port of Ibiza. The fishermen were rescued by the crew of the Manuel Azaña and later evacuated to another boat. The Aguilica Segunda was towed to the port of Palma by the fishing boat Nuevo Pep Domingo, one of three fishing boats which answered the distress signals, escorted by the rescue ship Castell de Bellver and a Guardia Civil launch. The Rescue Co-ordination Centre was unable to confirm how many passengers were on board the Manuel Azaña, but neither they nor the ferry sustained damage and the ferry was able to continue to Ibiza under its own steam. The fishing boat was seriously damaged and sprang a leak. At one point it was feared that it would sink but it reached port safely.