SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard air and surface units combined efforts with local marine units to rescue three boaters from a sinking vessel north of the entrance of San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, Monday.
At approximately 5:50 p.m., Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders received a call from a 911 Emergency Service operator who reported a vessel taking on water, and that the three people who were aboard were in the water wearing personal flotation devices.
Coast Guard watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to mariners, directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station San Juan 33-Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement vessel and diverted a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter to search for the distressed boaters. Once on scene, the Coast Guard air crew located one of the boaters attempting to dewater the vessel with a bucket, while the other two boaters were in the water clinging-onto the vessel. The air crew proceeded to vector-in the Coast Guard surface unit to the boater’s location, while a responding San Juan Maritime Police unit and a vessel from the Toa Baja Municipal Office of Emergency Management also arrived on-scene to render assistance.
The Coast Guard boat crew safely recovered all three boaters and established a tow to bring the distressed vessel to safe harbor. Once inside San Juan Harbor, The San Juan Maritime Police unit took over the tow of the vessel and embarked the three boaters, who were safely transported to the ‘Isla de Cabras’ boat ramp.
“I am deeply grateful to my crew, the San Juan Police Department, Toa Baja Emergency Management and Air Station Borinquen for their swift response and excellent collaboration,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Carmelo Serrano, Coast Guard boat coxswain for the case. “Our coordinated efforts ensured the individuals were quickly and safely recovered from the water, and both they and their vessel were brought back to shore without incident.”