A fishing co-operative is exploring the acquisition of its own rescue vessel amid mounting safety concerns following recent disappearances and a deadly maritime incident involving Caribbean fishermen, Barbados TODAY can reveal.

Two Oistins fishermen – Othneil Harewood and Chinese national Zhi Cai Su – disappeared at sea in March, and a Trinidadian died after he and his five colleagues were rescued from the St Vincent VII, which sank off the coast of French Guiana following a fire on board the vessel this week.

Now, the Black Fin Fleet Co-operative Society (BFFCS) is looking to make a significant maritime safety upgrade, president Moonesh Dharampaul disclosed.