“The vessel was carrying out its activity, together with the others [six more from the same organisation] and, from one moment to the next, it capsized. We don’t know the reasons, we don’t know anything”, said António Lé.

According to the person in charge, the vessel was purchased three years ago, was modern and the crew was experienced.

“Nothing justifies what happened”, he reinforced.


The alert for the listing of the fishing vessel “Virgem Dolorosa” was given at 04:33 to the local command of the Nazaré Maritime Police.

Eleven crew members were rescued and three are missing, from Praia da Leirosa, in Figueira da Foz.

António Lé explained that, after the vessel capsized, those nearby “left their fishing and went to help”.

“They managed to rescue 11 crew members, three dead, two of whom went to Nazaré, and one disembarked on a vessel called Nossa Senhora da Lapa, from Figueira da Foz, which also picked up two crew members who were rescued alive. The others were brought by colleagues,” he added.

António Lé highlighted the efficiency of the Portuguese Navy as it continued its search to find the three missing people.

The ship owner spoke of “a feeling of indescribable pain, not only for families but also for colleagues”.

Three of the 17 people who were on the ship that sank are still missing, with three confirmed dead and 11 people rescued alive, reported the Maritime Police of Figueira da Foz, district of Coimbra.

The alert for the listing of the fishing vessel "Virgem Dolorosa" was given at 04:33 to the local command of the Nazaré Maritime Police.

Cervaens Costa explained that the vessel that sank is "located and visible", with search and rescue operations continuing to take place, with the help of an air force helicopter, a drone from Nazaré, and a diving team.

According to the president of the Marinha Grande Chamber, Aurélio Ferreira, the "Virgem Dolorosa" is a trawler measuring 24 by six meters, with a port in Figueira da Foz.

Most of the people on the vessel were from Figueira da Foz (Leirosa), with two crew members from Indonesia who were rescued alive.