Family and friends of the crew still missing from the sunken Bourbon anchor handling tug supply vessel have launched an appeal to have the search and rescue mission extended.

The fundraising appeal has already received pledges for €72,509 ($80,000) out of a target of €300,000

The Luxembourg-flagged Bourbon Rhode (built 2006) sank on 26 September after being caught up in Hurricane Lorenzo in the Atlantic.

“The search and rescue mission (SAR) lasted only seven days, during which time bodies of four seafarers were found and three seafarers were found alive in a life raft,” said a spokesperson for the group.

According to the families of the missing crew the rescued seafarers are said to have confirmed that all four life rafts were “successfully launched”.

“That means that the missing seven crew members have a good chance of being alive, but still the SAR mission is already suspended,” said the spokesperson.

“We cannot stop looking for them as long as there is hope that they can be saved.”

The families and friends say they want to collect funds to “continue the search with whatever means needed”.

A petition calling for the rescue operation to be extended had gathered 43,164 signatures by Friday lunchtime, according to a posting on GoPetition.