Hope for Gordon abandoned

Hangana Seafood says based on the opinions of various experts, there is no reasonable prospect of finding missing Resplendent captain Carlo Gordon alive, or recovering his body from the wreck.The company said that last Friday Gordon's wife and children carried out two extensive flights to the area where the ship sank, accompanied by their housekeeper. A moment of silence was observed during the flight, while the family members scattered flower petals over the site.The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group subsidiary said it had decided, after careful consideration, that it was not a viable option to send divers or use a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to try and locate the missing captain in the sunken wreckage.The cause and circumstances of the sinking on 18 February is currently under investigation by the directorate of maritime affairs (DMA).The company said it will welcome the conclusion of the investigation and the publication of the DMA's report into the tragic incident.Hangana also announced that it would be holding a special service at its premises at Walvis Bay for family and friends in honour of Captain Gordon and to assist everyone affected by the tragedy to deal with the incident at a date to be arranged.It said that it was established, in consultation with Walvis Bay Diving, that even with the use of highly sophisticated equipment, diving at these depths is at the outer limits of human capability and would be a highly dangerous undertaking.A search for the Resplendent in conditions of poor visibility, and with currents measuring up to seven knots, renders the operation dangerous and near impossible.Hangana said that due consideration was also given to the prospect of contracting a specialised vessel to perform a survey of the wreck using a ROV to locate Gordon.A ROV functions as a visual aid only and does not have the capability to recover bodies from the seabed. Moreover, it has significant limitations. The vessel sank at a depth of approximately 318 metres. The depth of the vessel and the conditions on the seabed are such that visibility is very poor and a ROV of the type needed would only be able to inspect the exterior of the wreck, once located.Search and rescueThe company said its management had focused intensely on the search and rescue operations for Gordon after the sinking of the Resplendent occurred.Hangana said it had invited the captain's close family members to fly to the incident site to view the vicinity first-hand from the air, as a gesture of goodwill and to help the affected parties come to terms with events.Staff Reporter

Hope for Gordon abandoned

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-13

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Hope for Gordon abandoned

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-13

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