On the night of April 17, the 32-meter tugboat Papu Mar (MMSI: 755103015) sank off the coast of Argentina in the Indio Strait on the Río de la Plata near the Banco Chico reef.
At the time of the incident, the tug was towing barge 240-4, which was carrying 140 containers. Due to severe weather and storm conditions, the tug experienced uncontrolled water ingress, leading to partial sinking by the stern.
The crew of nine managed to evacuate to the barge, from where they were later rescued and brought safely to the port of La Plata. All crew members received medical attention, and no serious injuries were reported.
Salvage tug Ona Don Lorenzo (IMO: 9328388) was dispatched by RN Salvamento to assess the situation. The tug confirmed that Papu Mar had fully sunk, although it remained attached to the barge. The barge was later disconnected and towed to Buenos Aires.
Authorities are monitoring the area for potential pollution or hazardous material release. The vessel’s owner has begun organizing the salvage operation to recover Papu Mar. An official investigation into the incident is currently underway.
