The Sinking of the Monte Galineiro: How 22 Sailors Escaped a North Atlantic Ship Fire

Miracle at Sea: 22 Rescued from Burning Trawler off Newfoundland

ST. JOHN’S – In a harrowing maritime disaster narrowly averted by proximity and timing, all 22 crew members of the Spanish fishing vessel Monte Galineiro were saved on February 22, 2009, after their ship caught fire and sank in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.

The incident occurred approximately 400 kilometers southeast of St. John’s. A distress call was broadcast at 10:30 a.m. local time, reporting a major emergency aboard the 30-meter trawler.

A Rapid Response

Patrolling nearby when the distress signal went out at 10:30 a.m., the CCGS Leonard J. Cowley reached the coordinates in a remarkable ten minutes. The Coast Guard crew arrived to a harrowing sight: the Monte Galineiro was already being consumed by smoke and rapidly disappearing into the Atlantic.

The vessel sank completely in just 20 minutes, leaving the crew little time to prepare. Fishermen were seen sliding down the hull into life rafts or leaping directly into the ocean to escape the blaze.

Narrow Escape from Frigid Waters

The speed of the sinking left many of the international crew—comprising nationals from Spain, Ghana, Morocco, and Romania—unprepared for the elements.

• Conditions of Rescue: Rescuers reported that several men were pulled from the water without life jackets; one survivor was clad only in his underwear.
• Medical Status: Following the rescue, one sailor was treated for hypothermia due to the extreme water temperatures, while another received care for smoke inhalation.

While a definitive cause was not initially established, preliminary reports suggested that a sudden, uncontrollable fire led to the vessel’s rapid demise. Thanks to the immediate presence of the CCGS Leonard J. Cowley, what could have been a major maritime tragedy resulted in no loss of life.