Yesterday the USCG issued a press launch: A Coast Guard boat crew rescued 12 individuals, Wednesday morning, after they had been compelled to desert the M/V Bonnie G that was taking up water and ran aground simply south of the airport in St. Thomas.
All 12 individuals aboard the Bonnie G, a 195-foot Vanuatu-flagged “ro-ro” cargo vessel, are secure and no accidents have been reported to the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan obtained VHF marine radio communication from the Bonnie G at 3:41 a.m., Wednesday, reporting the vessel was taking up water within the engine room and that the individuals onboard had been abandoning ship onto two life rafts and a lifeboat.
Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan transmitted an Pressing Marine Info Broadcast to alert vessel visitors within the space of the continued misery and notified crewmembers at Boat Forces Detachment St. Thomas, who launched a Coast Guard 33-foot Particular Objective Craft to supply rescue help. As soon as on scene, the Coast Guard boat crew embarked all 12 of the survivors and transported them to Crown Bay Marina.
“This vessel grounding was a really shut name and I commend our watchstanders and responding boat crew for his or her efforts rendering help to the individuals who had been aboard the Bonnie G and bringing them to secure harbor,” stated Capt. José E. Díaz, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan. “There may be nonetheless a lot work forward of us to research and be taught the causal elements of this incident. Certainly one of our foremost priorities is to evaluate the air pollution risk from this vessel and guarantee dangers are correctly managed and probably hazardous chemical compounds are eliminated as rapidly and safely as potential to take care of and shield the pristine waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
Coast Guard Marine Security Detachment and response personnel within the U.S. Virgin Islands are working with the Bonnie G vessel firm to evaluate the present air pollution risk. The Bonnie G is reported to have roughly 13,000 gallons of gasoline and roughly 250 gallons of lube oil onboard, and the vessel was carrying six vehicles, a truck, a trailer and two pallets of cargo. The Coast Guard additionally notified the Nationwide Response Heart and native authorities within the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Coast Guard is investigating the circumstances and causal elements of the incident.
