Coast Guard, CBP respond to report of stowaways on merchant vessel offshore of Miami

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 01/17/2019 03:39 PM EST

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast
Contact: 7th District Public Affairs
Office: 305-415-6683
After Hours: 786-367-7649
7th District online newsroom

Coast Guard, CBP respond to report of stowaways on merchant vessel offshore of Miami

MIAMI — The Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection responded to a report of three stowaways on the merchant vessel, Diana J, Wednesday approximately three miles offshore of Port of Miami.

At approximately 6:34 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders received a report from the Diana J crew stating they had located two Guatemalan adult male stowaways and one Honduran adult male stowaway during a pre-arrival stowaway search approximately 23 miles northwest of La Palma, Cuba, Tuesday.

Capt. Megan Dean, commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami, issued a Captain of the Port Order stating the Diana J crew could arrive no less than three miles offshore of Port of Miami until Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection boarding teams boarded the vessel and cleared it for entry.

The boarding teams found no additional stowaways, rescinded the Captain of the Port Order, and CBP Office of Field Operations took the stowaways into custody. 

-USCG-