Coast Guard air and surface rescue crews assist distressed cargo ship M/V Island Express off San Juan, Puerto Rico

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/29/2020 07:05 PM EDT

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Coast Guard air and surface rescue crews assist distressed cargo ship M/V Island Express off San Juan, Puerto Rico

The 412-foot motor vessel Island Express takes on water about 4 miles off San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Coast Guard rescue crew from Station San Juan and Air Station Borinquen responded to assist the vessel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ricardo Castrodad)

The 412-foot motor vessel Island Express is escorted into San Juan Harbor, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Coast Guard Station San Juan and Air Station Borinquen rescue crews assisted the vessel after it started taking on water. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ricardo Castrodad)

B-roll footage of Coast Guard Station San Juan's 45-foot rescue boat crew riding through 10-foot seas to assist the motor vessel Island Express and of the vessel being escorted into San Juan Harbor, Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Coast Guard Station San Juan and Air Station Borinquen rescue crews assisted the vessel after it started taking on water. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Ricardo Castrodad)
Editor's note: Click on images to download high resolution version and play video.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – 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.

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