Written by
Nick Blenkey
A Coast Guard boat crew rescued 12 folks, Wednesday morning, after they had been pressured to desert the grounded cargo vessel M/V Bonnie G which was taking over water and had run aground simply south of the airport in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
All 12 individuals aboard the Bonnie G, a 195-foot Vanuatu-flagged RO/RO cargo vessel, are protected and no accidents have been reported to the Coast Guard.
Based on the Equasis knowledge base, the Bonnie G was initially in-built 1981 as an offshore service vessel and is presently managed by West Palm Seashore, Fla., primarily based MMS Americas LLC.
Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan acquired VHF marine radio communication from the Bonnie G at 3:41 a.m., Wednesday, reporting the vessel was taking over water within the engine room and that the folks onboard had been abandoning ship onto two life rafts and a lifeboat.
Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan transmitted an Pressing Marine Data Broadcast to alert vessel site 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 Goal Craft to offer 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 protected harbor,” stated Capt. José E. Díaz, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan. “There’s nonetheless a lot work forward of us to analyze and study the causal elements of this incident. Considered one of our important priorities is to evaluate the air pollution menace from this vessel and guarantee dangers are correctly managed and probably hazardous chemical compounds are eliminated as shortly and safely as potential to take care of and defend 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 menace. The grounded cargo vessel is reported to have roughly 13,000 gallons of gas 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 Middle and native authorities within the U.S. Virgin Islands.