USCG Rescues 10 Crew from Disabled Cargo Ship

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Confidence rescued 10 crewmembers, who were stranded on Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, Alta, which became disabled on September 19 approximately 1,380 miles southeast of Bermuda.

“We were conducting a law enforcement patrol near Puerto Rico when we were assigned to assist the crew of the motor vessel Alta,” said Cmdr. Travis Emge, the commanding officer of the Confidence.

“We traveled over 1,300 nautical miles to get to the disabled ship ahead of Hurricane Leslie’s forecasted track and brought the 10 crewmembers aboard. “

The Coast Guard was notified on September 30 that the 250-foot cargo ship became disabled while transiting from Greece to Haiti, and that the crew was unable to make repairs. The crew reported that they had enough food for two days and water for 15 days, and that there were no injuries or immediate medical concerns.

An aircrew on an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City dropped about a week’s worth of food to the crew October 2, helping sustain the men until help could arrive.

The Confidence is taking the 10 men to Puerto Rico and is scheduled to arrive there Friday, the USCG said.

“The Coast Guard’s Fifth District command center has been working to coordinate with the ship owner for a commercial tug to tow the vessel to shore,” the coast guard added.