U.S. Coast Guard Evacuates Four Crew Members from Tanker Off Puerto Rico
Cubierto por 3 fuentesPublicado
The U.S. Coast Guard evacuated four crew members on Sunday, November 8, from a Cyprus-flagged oil tanker operating off Puerto Rico after the crew reported symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The rescue took place near the island of Vieques, east of Puerto Rico.
Rescue operation
An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen reached the vessel, located approximately one nautical mile off the southern coast of Vieques, and hoisted the four crew members despite difficulties finding a safe spot on the ship's deck. Lieutenant Stan Raymond, the aircraft's co-pilot, noted that the hoisting environment was challenging, but that thanks to teamwork they managed to identify the safest and most effective location to carry out the maneuver, and expressed satisfaction at having evacuated the four mariners so they could receive a higher level of medical care.
The vessel and its crew
The tanker, identified as Diabelli by Maritime Executive and as Daibelli by gCaptain and Marine Insight, measures 328 feet in length and sails under the Cyprus flag. According to Maritime Executive, it is a 3,900 deadweight-ton product tanker, built in 2022 and German-owned, with a clean inspection record, operating on a Caribbean rotation between Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and Saint Lucia, among other destinations.
Transport and assistance
The vessel's captain had alerted Sector San Juan's Rescue Sub-Center on Saturday night about the symptoms the four crew members were experiencing. After the hoist, the aircraft landed at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, where emergency medical personnel were waiting for the mariners. According to gCaptain, they were taken to Carolina Regional Hospital, while Marine Insight reported that they were taken to a regional hospital. The operation was supported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Public Health Service, Puerto Rico's emergency medical services, and hospital staff.
The Coast Guard did not provide further details on the crew members' health condition or on the suspected source of the illness. According to Marine Insight, Seventh Coast Guard District crews remain on constant standby to respond to mariners in distress.
