WILLEMSTAD - The Rescue and Coordination Center (RCC) was notified last Friday evening via VHF channel 16 of the fishing boat Sandimar. The Curacao man indicated that their fishing boat was sinking near the territorial waters of Venezuela.

The Coast Guard immediately dispatched the Dash aircraft to the location. Upon arrival, the Dash detected a floating object in the water. The object turned out to be a refrigerator that was on board the fishing boat. The refrigerator is used by fishermen for storing fish.

Since Friday evening there has been a search for the missing fishermen through the units of both the Venezuelan and Curacao Coast Guard. Other Curaçao fishing boats have also contributed to the search.