Article

Coast Guard assists distressed cargo ship off San Juan, Puerto Rico


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 3 August 2020 74 -

Text and photo by U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan

Coast Guard air and surface rescue crews at Sector San Juan responded and assisted the distressed M/V Island Express Wednesday afternoon, after the ship started taking on water when it departed the Port of San Juan for storm avoidance in anticipation of Tropical Cyclone 9.

The M/V Island Express, a Cyprus flagged 412-foot ro-ro cargo ship, and its 18-man crew is now safely moored in San Juan Harbor.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a Mayday VHF radio transmission on Channel 16 from the Captain of the M/V Island Express, who reported that there was a possible broken pipe in the engine room and that approximately 75% of the bilges were full of water.

Watchstanders directed the launch of two 33-foot small boats and a 45-foot Response Boat Medium from Station San Juan that got underway and arrived on scene with the M/V Island Express. A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter also arrived on scene, and the aircrew was able to maintain communications with the Coast Guard boat crews as they escorted the cargo ship in eight to 10 foot seas back to the safety of the port.

“Despite the impending tropical storm and all Station San Juan small boats securely out of the water for an incoming storm, our boat crews responded immediately to launch two 33-foot small boats from their trailers and the 45-foot Response Boat Medium utilizing the mobile boat hoist” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Lance Wiser, Station San Juan officer in charge. “The teamwork and training of Station operators allowed these evolutions to safely take place simultaneously which led to all three assets arriving on scene with the distressed vessel within 45 minutes. The sea conditions on scene were pushing the parameters of the small boats but the crews endured and the distressed vessel was escorted safety into the harbor.”

Meanwhile, Sector San Juan Prevention personnel coordinated with the San Juan Bay Pilots and two Puerto Rico Towing tugboats that rendezvoused with the M/V Island Express at the entrance of San Juan Harbor. The tugboats escorted the M/V Island Express to Pier 15, where the vessel safely moored and the crew was able to finalize dewatering of the bilge spaces.

What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article Safehaven Marine delivers a new Interceptor 48, 15m Pilot Vessel to the San Juan Bay Pilots, Puerto Rico.

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 11 May 2020

Safehaven Marine have delivered one our Interceptor 48 pilot vessels to the San Juan Bay Pilots, Puerto Rico.
This marks Safehaven Marines 41st pilot boat delivered to portsWorldwide. ‘Harbor Thunder’ a very striking
design, she is powered by a pair of Cummins QSM11 engines at a heavy duty rating of 450hp, allowing the
vessel an economical continuous operational speed of 22-23kts.

0

Article MAIB releases report into grounding and recovery of Thea II in Humber Estuary

published on 21 August 2020

UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published grounding and recovery of a container feeder vessel and a tug in the approaches to the Humber Estuary in storm force conditions on 15 December 2018.

0

Video Ever Forward: Vessel stuck on Chesapeake Bay for a month

published on 14 April 2022

Up close with Ever Forward: Massive cargo ship stuck on Chesapeake Bay for a month

0

Article Final Report following the loss of containers from MSC ZOE (1/1/2019)

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 29 June 2020

On the night of January 1, 2019, MSC Zoe lost approximately 290 containers in heavy weather on the journey from Portugal to Bremerhaven. The loss of so many containers is an exceptional event and is the second largest known container loss of a ship due to heavy weather.

0

Article 4th Customer Day at NAUTITEC: A Day Full Of Inspirational Speeches And Lectures With The Opportunity To Network

published on 9 June 2022

More than 90 guests from the european maritime cluster attended the 4th NAUTITEC Customer Day in Leer on 2nd June 2022, which was hosted by NAUTITEC and supported by the partners of the maritime campus, Faculty of maritime science Sciences Emden/Leer.

0

Opinion Arie Palmers: "A case with a non compliant pilot transfer arrangement"

by Arie Palmers - published on 26 August 2024

Despite clear regulations and regular maintenance requirements, safety often falls by the wayside, as the current example of a bulk carrier vividly demonstrates.

3

Article Safe through polar waters with NAUTITEC

by VEUS Shipping - published on 10 September 2019

NAUTITEC conducts Basic and Advanced Polar Code Trainings

0

Video Connor Foss Pilot Boat in Astoria

published on 30 September 2021

0

Video S-102 Bathymetric Surface Product for a Safe Passage

published on 13 July 2020

Specialized training for maritime pilots
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada – June 23, 2020 – The Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre (MSRC), a world-class pilot simulation training and port feasibility studies facility, is pleased to announce the release of an informational video on the new S-102 standards on surface bathymetry products.
In the video, Captain Pascal Rhéaume, pilot and member of the technical committee for the Corporation of Lower St-Lawrence Pilots, an active stakeholder...

0