Photos: Coast Guard Rescue Crew From Ship
The Coast Guard rescued 10 crew members who were stranded on a disabled cargo ship for almost 20 days when they were picked up Monday, approximately 1,380 miles southeast of Bermuda.
“We were conducting a law enforcement patrol near Puerto Rico when we were assigned to assist the crew of the motor vessel Alta,” said Cmdr. Travis Emge, the commanding officer of the Confidence, which rescued the crew.
“We traveled over 1,300 nautical miles to get to the disabled ship ahead of Hurricane Leslie’s forecasted track and brought the 10 crewmembers aboard. We are all proud of our part in this coordinated Coast Guard response to rescue this crew.”
The Coast Guard was notified on September 30th that the 250-foot Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, Alta, became disabled while transiting from Greece to Haiti, and were unable to make repairs.
The crew reported that they had enough food for two days and water for 15 days, and that there were no injuries or immediate medical concerns.
An aircrew on an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City dropped about a week’s worth of food to the crew on October 2, with the aircraft refueling in Bermuda.
The Confidence is taking the ten men to Puerto Rico and the Coast Guard’s Fifth District command center has been working to coordinate with the ship owner for a commercial tug to tow the vessel to shore.
The Coast Guard Cutter Confidence’s small boat crew arrives to the Alta to rescue the crew of the disabled cargo ship in the Atlantic. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Domitrovich.
Chief Petty Officer Joshua Tobosa climbs aboard the Alta to conduct a basic safety sweep aboard the disabled ship before additional crewmembers arrive. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ens. Samantha Penate.
Ensign Samantha Penate, from the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence, speaks with the crew of Alta to determine the situation aboard their disabled cargo ship in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Cmdr. Todd Behney.
Some of Coast Guard Cutter Confidence’s crew gathers with men rescued from the cargo ship. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Cmdr. Todd Behney.
The Coast Guard Cutter Confidence arrives on scene with the disabled cargo ship Alta. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Martinez.
The crew of the disabled cargo ship Alta welcomes the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence’s small boat crew as they arrive on scene. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ens. Samantha Penate.
Great job.