Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A small vessel belonging to the navy of Mexico has reportedly sunk while collecting sargasso. According to a statement from the Harbor Master’s Office, a sargasso boat belonging to the Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR) sank on June 15, while collecting algae.
“The vessel was incorporated into Operation Sargassum 2021, engaged in the collection of sargassum in shallow waters, having carried out a search pattern by surface and by dives with negative results,” says their statement.
The small panga sank approximately 800 meters off the coast of Playa del Carmen after taking on water due to the bad weather. The incident happened around 9:00 a.m. with the Harbor Master reporting no injuries, only precautions in the area since, at the time of the statement, the boat remains sunk.