All 32 crew of N.S. scallop trawler safe after fire at sea, owner says

HALIFAX — The owner of a scallop trawler that caught fire at sea south of Yarmouth, N.S., Tuesday night says all 32 crew members are safely off the boat.

Ocean Choice International says 28 crew members of FV Atlantic Destiny were taken to Yarmouth by helicopter during the night, where they received medical attention, food and accommodations.

The company says in a release this morning that the remaining four crew members, as well as two search and rescue technicians, were transferred at about 8 a.m. from the fishing vessel to the Canadian Coast Guard ship Cape Roger.

On Tuesday night, a spokesman for the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax said the centre received a call from the ship at around 8 p.m. reporting there was a fire on board, it had lost power and it was taking on water as it drifted in eight-metre waves and 100 km/h winds.

Ocean Choice says an investigation into what caused the fire will begin in the coming days and the extent of the damage is not yet known.

The company says the Atlantic Destiny is an offshore fishing vessel that harvests and freezes sea scallops, and its home port is Riverport, N.S.