SEA RESCUE: Sailboaters in distress saved by passing ship

Coast Guard coordinates rescue of 2 from sailboat disabled in rough weather

A sailboat caught in rough weather 345 miles from North Carolina is assisted by the crew of the KSL Santiago as seen from a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., Dec. 5, 2020. The two people aboard were rescued in a coordinated effort by the Fifth Coast Guard District through use of the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System. U.S. Coast Guard video.

Taken: 12.05.2020 | Video by Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen Lehmann

A sailboat caught in rough weather 345 miles from North Carolina is assisted by the crew of the KSL Santiago as seen from a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., Dec. 5, 2020. The two people aboard were rescued in a coordinated effort by the Fifth Coast Guard District through use of the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of two people from a sailboat disabled by weather approximately 345 miles east of Hatteras Inlet, N.C., Saturday afternoon.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard’s Fifth District Command Center received notification from the International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center at approximately 9:30 a.m. that a GPS alert had been received from a vessel in distress. The alert also stated that the vessel was experiencing severe weather and that both the sails and engine were inoperable. 

District five watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City aircrew aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft and activated the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System to alert vessels in the area to the emergent situation and request assistance from them.

From MarineTraffic.com:

Where is this vessel going to? The vessel departed from TAICANG, CN on 2020-10-14 19:18 LT (UTC +8) and is currently sailing at 10.9 knots with Northwest direction heading to BALTIMORE, US with reported Estimated Time of Arrival at 2020-12-06 20:00 LT (UTC +8) local time (in 9 hours, 43 minutes ) 
What kind of ship is this?
KSL SANTIAGO (IMO: 9719927) is a Bulk Carrier that was built in 2014 (6 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Hong Kong.
It’s carrying capacity is 181020 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 9.9 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 292 meters and her width is 45 meters.

A sailboat caught in rough weather 345 miles from North Carolina is spotted by a Coast Guard aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City from an C-130 Hercules aircraft, Dec. 5, 2020. The two people aboard were rescued in a coordinated effort by the Fifth Coast Guard District and the bulk carrier KSL Santiago. U.S. Coast Guard photo

The vessel KSL Santiago, a 958-foot bulk carrier, answered the call and diverted to the disabled sailing vessel. The crew of KSL Santiago were able to recover the two mariners and are now transiting to Baltimore. 

“This could have gone much differently given the weather conditions, the fact that the boat was disabled, and that it was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,” said Kelvin Morgan, operational unit controller for the Fifth District command center. “The fact we have partners like the crew and captain of the KSL Santiago allows cases like this to have a happy ending.”

No injuries were reported.

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