Seaspan-Lingue

The "CSAV Lingua" assisted a distressed yacht until the crew of the "Sapelo" towed the disabled French-flagged sailboat Bounty into St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in the night of Dec 8, 2012, rescuing the two crewmembers and two passengers onboard. Rescued were three men and a woman, one a U.S. citizen, two are French citizens and the other is a dual citizen of both nations. The 65-foot Bounty was traveling from the state of Virginia to St. Marteen, when the sailboat reportedly lost steering in 10-foot seas and deteriorating weather in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 215 nautical miles north of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received notification from Coast Guard Atlantic Area Watchstanders, who relayed a call in the night of Dec 5 from the National Command Center reporting the distress. Coast Guard Sector San Juan Watchstanders alerted the Coast Guard Cutter that got underway to rendezvous with the "Bounty" and rendered assistance, and also initiated an Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) alert that was answered by the crew of the Chinese-flagged "CSAV Lingue". The 858-foot container ship diverted course and arrived on scene with the Bounty in the morning of Dec 5 to monitor the situation and render rescue assistance if needed until the "Sapelo"’s arrival which took place in the evening in deteriorating weather with 10-foot seas and the crew confirmed that all passengers onboard were safe. The crew of the "Sapelo" embarked the "Bounty" and accomplished temporary repairs to lock the sailboat’s steering in place, which allowed them to safely take the sailboat in tow. The crew of the "Sapelo" towed the "Bounty" to safety in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where they released the sailing vessel and rescued persons to conduct needed repairs.