More than a week after the fishing vessel ST VINCENT VII vanished off the coast of French Guiana, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries says search and rescue operations remain a national priority.

In a media release issued Tuesday, the Ministry confirmed it “continues to closely monitor the search” for the vessel, registered as TT033040 (IMO 8781973), and reiterated that the government “remains deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of all persons aboard.”

According to the Ministry, the Fisheries Division first learned of trouble on July 14, when reports began circulating of a video that appeared to show a fire aboard the vessel. Notably, officials say no distress report had been filed by the vessel’s operator at that point the alarm was raised through unofficial channels before any formal notification reached authorities.