Friday, June 15, 2012

Amver ship rescues 7 near Hawaii

Seven mariners were rescued by the Amver participating wood chip carrier Forestal Diamante after their fishing boat caught fire 316 miles northeast of Johnston Island on Wednesday June 13, 2012.

Two Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alerts were received by rescue personnel in Hawaii along with an alert from a NOAA fisheries observer who was reported to be aboard the Golden Eagle II, a Honolulu based fishing vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard sent a C-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Barbers Point and used an Amver surface picture to identify and divert the Panamanian flagged bulk carrier. The 751 foot ship was 60 miles from the distress location.

All seven crewmen were able to board the Forestal Diamante without injury. The ship is sailing to Japan but may try to offload the survivors in Guam. The fishing vessel remains adrift.

The Forestal Diamante enrolled in the Amver system in 2004 and has earned 6 Amver awards for participation.

Photo credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo

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