Two fisherman missing and one dramatically pulled from water after ‘scallop war’ boat sinks off Sussex coa - The Sun

TWO fishermen are missing and one has been pulled from the sea off East Sussex after a 'scallop war' boat sank early this morning.

Coastguard officials scrambled a search and rescue helicopter after a distress beacon was fired from fishing vessel Joanna C at 6am.

The RNLI are searching for two fishermen missing at sea after a boat sank off the coast of East Sussex this morningCredit: eddie mitchell

Other fish, ping vessels are also scouring the water for the crew of Joanna CCredit: Twitter Sussex_ex

The vessel, pictured in 2018, had a complete overhaul last year to turn it into a scallop boat capable of week-long tripsCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

Coastguard crews are also searching from the coast for signs of the missing men Credit: eddie mitchell

The Joanna C was previously involved in the scallop wars, a long-standing dispute between Brit and French fishermen that has seen UK vessels surrounded and rammed, while flares were allegedly thrown.

During the drama this morning, two RNLI lifeboats in Newhaven and Eastbourne were launched in a bid to track down the missing boat.

The beacon's signal put the vessel three nautical miles off the coast of Seaford, near Newhaven.

In an update at 10.30am, HM Coastguard said one man had been rescued from the water by the Newhaven RNLI lifeboat and has been transferred to hospital.

He was found clinging to a lifebuoy.

But searches continue for two missing crewmen.

The Joanna C is a 45ft scalloping vessel registered in Brixham, the Coastguard said, and three people were aboard when it sank.

The boat went down three nautical miles off Seaford

A helicopter crew is searching from the air after a third man was found clinging to a buoy Credit: eddie mitchell

A flare was fired from the stricken vessel at 6amCredit: eddie mitchell

The boat had previously been involved in the 'scallop wars' between British and French fishermanCredit: Rex Features

The Marine Traffic Map shows a number of vessels involved in the search

In September 2019, Fishing News reported that the boat had recently been overhauled during a nine-month programme of work.

The rebuild transformed the vessel into a scalloper capable of week-long fishing trips.

A coastguard rescue team are checking for sightings of the missing men from the shore.

Another fishing vessel close to the area is also helping with the search.

HM Coastguard controller Piers Stanbury said: "Thankfully, one of the three people on board at the time of sinking has been pulled out of the water and brought to shore by the Newhaven RNLI lifeboat.

"However, the intensive air and sea search for the two missing crew continues.

"Debris has been located close to the location of the alert location but no life raft has been found as yet."

Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes, called the news "heartbreaking".

The scallop wars broke out in 2012 and 2018 after British craft legally fished for the shellfish at a time when French fishers are not permitted to make catches.

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2020-11-21 13:40:19Z
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