Mauritanian military authorities have launched a large-scale search and rescue operation after a naval rescue boat carrying seven soldiers went missing off the coast of the capital, Nouakchott, according to official statements from the Mauritanian Ministry of National Defense and the Mauritanian army.
The incident began late on Tuesday, Jan. 20, when a national patrol vessel identified as Maksem Boubacar became immobilised about 30 nautical miles (48 km) northwest of the Port of Friendship. Military officials said the ship’s propulsion system failed after its propellers became entangled in discarded fishing nets, a common hazard in Mauritania’s heavily trafficked fishing waters.
In response, the navy dispatched a smaller military launch, described as a “vedette”, to assist the stranded patrol ship. Contact with the rescue boat was lost at around 11:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, the military said. The vessel had seven soldiers on board.
Search and rescue operations were launched immediately, with air force, navy and marine units placed on high alert. Military teams have been searching waters northwest of Nouakchott since Wednesday, Jan. 21, and operations were continuing on Thursday. As of the latest official update, the rescue boat and its crew remained missing.
Meanwhile, the disabled patrol vessel Maksem Boubacar was located by the coast guard ship Arkin and safely towed back to Nouakchott port. Authorities said all crew members aboard the patrol ship were rescued unharmed.
Officials noted that the search area lies along one of the world’s most productive fishing coastlines, where dense maritime traffic from industrial trawlers and artisanal fishing boats increases navigational risks. Abandoned fishing nets, often referred to as “ghost nets”, are a recurring cause of maritime accidents in the region.
The Mauritanian military said weather conditions at the time included periods of strong winds, which may have complicated rescue efforts. Authorities have not yet provided further details on the possible causes of the rescue boat’s disappearance but said the search would continue until the fate of the missing soldiers is determined.
The information was confirmed through official bulletins from the Mauritanian Ministry of National Defense and the army, with additional reporting from Anadolu Agency and Agence France-Presse citing military sources.
