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Tag: United States Coast Guard

King Eider

King Eider

King Eider
Photo: uscg

On August 20, the 37 foot long passenger ship King Eider became disabled in Brace Cove near Gloucester, Massachusetts. The King Eider was cruising with 34 passengers when the passenger ship sprung a leak. The King Eider sent out a distress call with a nearby fishing vessel, Coast Guard lifeboat and other vessels from local authorities responding. The fishing vessel Lisa & Jake arrived on the scene first and took the passenger ship under tow while pumps on board the King Eider brought the flooding under control. The Coast Guard lifeboat arrived a short time later and assisted with additional dewatering pumps. The vessels proceeded into Gloucester where all the passengers disembarked. No reports of injuries or pollution released. The cause of the flooding was not reported.

Caribbean Fantasy

Caribbean Fantasy

Caribbean Fantasy
Photo: uscg

On August 17, the passenger ferry Caribbean Fantasy caught fire near San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Caribbean Fantasy was en route to San Juan from the Dominican Republic with 511 passengers and crew when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room and spread into other sections of the vessel. The passengers and crew evacuated the vessel using emergency slides and rescued by the Coast Guard, tugs and local authorities. Some 24 passengers suffered only minor injuries during the evacuation and were later taken to hospital.  The disabled Caribbean Fantasy went adrift and eventually ran aground off Punta Salinas.

Caribbean Fantasy
Photo: uscg

Firefighting and salvage teams boarded the vessel the following day while authorities placed booms around the hull to contain any pollution. Divers inspected the hull and found the grounding caused no damage to the hull. On August 20, tugs were able to reestablish towlines and refloated the Caribbean Fantasy and towed the ferry into San Juan. Fire fighters were able to enter the engine room and extinguish the remaining part of the fire.

Reports state the Caribbean Fantasy had been cited for 107 deficiencies by Coast Guard inspectors in recent years. One report from 2014, cited the vessel needed additional protection from fuel oil leaking onto hot surfaces.

https://youtu.be/Gu_qFooruQY

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Lydia & Maya

Lydia & Maya

Lydia & Maya
Photo: CBS Boston

The 71 foot long, 110 gt fishing vessel Lydia & Maya suffered uncontrolled flooding in the Gulf of Maine off Southwest Harbor, Maine. The crew alerted the Coast Guard that the fishing vessel was taking on water. A short time later, the EPIRB from the Lydia & Maya was sounded. The Coast Guard launched the 47-foot long response boat along with a Jayhawk helicopter to the scene. The helicopter arrived on scene and found the four crew of the Lydia & Maya in a life raft.  All four crew were hoisted to safety.  All four men were suffering from hypothermia and were taken to hospital for treatment. The fate of the Lydia & Maya was not reported. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.