USCG Aids Supply Ship Taking on Water in the Caribbean
The U.S. Coast Guard assisted an offshore supply ship named Sea Falcon that reported it was taking on water while sailing in the Caribbean. When the call was received, the master declared an emergency reporting that the pumps on his vessel were not able to keep up with the ingress of water.
The Sea Falcon, built in 1980, is a 121-foot (37-meter) supply vessel that is operating in the Caribbean. When the vessel, which is registered in Vanuatu, called for assistance it reported that there were four people aboard. It was carrying two vehicles, construction materials, glass, and a container filled with dry goods.
The vessel was approximately 22 nautical miles south of Puerto Rico when the call for assistance was received late on Friday, May 24. The Sea Falcon was traveling to Tortola, British Virgin Islands when the captain reported they discovered a crack in the vessel’s hull. The estimated rate of flooding the USCG reports was approximately 300 gallons per minute.
While calling for vessels in the area to assist, the USCG also dispatched an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter.
Reaching the vessel, the Coast Guard put a rescue swimmer aboard the Sea Falcon to assess the situation. The rescue swimmer confirmed approximately three inches of water in the engine room due to a three-inch crack in the vessel’s hull.
To aid with the situation, the Coast Guard lowered an additional pump to the vessel from the helicopter. They assisted in getting the pumping operation and the rescue swimmer confirmed the water level had decreased to about two inches before leaving the vessel.
The rescue swimmer was recovered by the aircrew and the Coast Guard helicopter returned to Air Station Borinquen. The Sea Falcon with the aid was able to continue to Tortola. She tied up at approximately 11:48 a.m. Saturday in the British Virgin Islands.
Two Rescued After Luxury Yacht Sinks Off St. Augustine
On Saturday, local first responders rescued two people from a sinking luxury yacht off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida.
Just after 1130 hours on Saturday morning, Sector Jacksonville received a call on Channel 16 from the yacht Atlantis, an 80-foot Sunseeker. The operator believed that they had struck something in the water, and the vessel was flooding.
Coast Guard Station Mayport launched a boat crew to the scene, and the local sheriff's office, the police department, county first responders and nearby good samaritans all converged on the vessel. Local police marine units arrived first, and they safely rescued the two people aboard the yacht. One individual sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The submerged object was likely a dredge pipe piling, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue. Photos released by the rescue agency show a large hole in the bow of the vessel at the waterline.
All images courtesy St. Johns County Fire Rescue
Atlantis was a 1999-built Sunseeker Predator 80 with a top speed of 45 knots, according to Boat International. Local media assessed its value as approximately $1 million.
As of Saturday, the vessel remained partially afloat, with just the bow visible. The Coast Guard has marked the hazard with buoys and issued a notice to mariners to warn of the potential risk to navigation. The vessel's owner is making salvage arrangements, according to the Coast Guard.
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