Chinese Vessel Rescues 3 Kenyan Fishermen Who Disappeared In Indian Ocean, Takes Them To Sri Lanka

• A quartet of men on a deep-sea fishing expedition in the Indian Ocean disappeared in November after their boat capsised
• One of them died, with the remaining trio getting rescued by a Chinese fishing vessel on the Kenyan waters
• The vessel will dock in Sri Lanka in February 2024 before the men's repatriation is organised

Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Malindi - Three men rescued from drowning in the Indian Ocean will have to complete the journey with the rescuers' vessel.

They were on a fishing expedition in November this year when they disappeared.

Deadly deep-seas fishing expedition

The Chinese rescuer vessel was also on a fishing sojourn when they stumbled on the quartet's capsizing boat.

They would reunite with their families in February 2024, after the ship docks in Sri Lanka, Nation.africa reported.

"We found four people in a capsised boat, we have them on board but they will not be repatriated until the vessel docks in Sir Lanka," the rescuers said.

The Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) operatives reported the men missing on December 13.

The whereabouts of their ill-fated Jodari boat, registration 6196, is still unknown.

The group comprised four men, but one died during the foreigners' rescue mission.

The KCGS confirmed the surviving trio were with the Chinese.

"KCGS conducted SAR operations and, through Maritime Domain Awareness, confirmed the rescue of three fishermen by a foreign Fishing Vessel at sea. Sadly, one fisherman lost his life," the agency said.

In separate maritime news, nine Syrian sailors stranded in Kenya finally returned home to reunite with their loved ones after spending years in the country.

Syrian sailors sell ship

They had been living in their ship, anchored at the Mombasa port in September 2019.

The owner of the vessel abandoned the crew in 2019 when they made a stop at the Kenyan coast.

Since the year, the sailors survived on aid from well-wishers who would donate food and other necessities.

They moved to court seeking permission to sell the vessel to have their salaries and other compensations after their boss went mum on them.

After availing the necessary documentation in the court, they were permitted to auction the vessel, selling it to a coast-based businessman who acquired it at KSh 50 million.

The sailors would then use part of the payout to facilitate their journey back home.