The decision was made “after considering all the circumstances and in accordance with all international requirements,” according to the illegal administration of the archipelago in a statement.
The ship Argos Georgia, owned by the British-Norwegian company Argos Froyanes Ltd. and flying the flag of Saint Helena, sank on July 22 about 370 kilometers – or 200 nautical miles – east of the Malvina Islands, due to a break in its hull that caused the entry of sea water and a sudden flood.
At least 14 of the 27 crew members managed to get into lifeboats and were rescued by other fishing boats that were in the surrounding area, while nine perished and another four remain missing.
Of that total, 10 were Spanish, eight Russian, five Indonesian, two Uruguayan and another two Peruvian, as reported at the time of the events. Two of the deceased were Spanish nationals, as well as two of those who are still missing, indicated the Spanish authorities. The nationalities of the other deceased and missing persons were not specified.
Since the shipwreck, the authorities of the Malvina Islands have carried out a search that spanned more than 11,002 miles (almost 18,000 kilometers) without finding traces of the missing people, so they presume that they died, the statement said.
Despite the suspension of the search, the occupation government called on ships transiting the area in the coming weeks to "be attentive to any sign of the missing or the remains of the ship."
They also reported that the bodies of the nine deceased arrived in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, where they will undergo the necessary tests before being delivered to their loved ones.
“This entire search and rescue operation and recovery effort has been a difficult and distressing event for everyone involved,” the statement said.
For its part, the private shipping company regretted the “tragic events that caused the loss of 13” of its officers and crew.
“The fishing industry is traditionally family-based. Argos Froyanes is a family business in every sense of the word and this week we have lost brothers, parents and children,” the company expressed on its social networks.
