U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 12 People from Stranded Cargo Ship After It Hits Rocks in Heavy Seas

“This vessel grounding was a very close call" in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Captain José E. Díaz said on Wednesday

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 12 people from a stranded cargo ship on Wednesday after the vessel hit rocks among crashing waves in the U.S. Virgin Islands, officials said.

The ship, described as “a 195-foot Vanuatu-flagged ‘ro-ro’ cargo vessel” known as Bonnie G, “was taking on water in the engine room” with passengers “abandoning ship onto two life rafts and a lifeboat,” according to a press release by the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received VHF marine radio communication from the Bonnie G at 3:41 a.m.,” the release explained, adding, “Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan transmitted an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to alert vessel traffic in the area of the ongoing distress and notified crewmembers at Boat Forces Detachment St. Thomas, who launched a Coast Guard 33-foot Special Purpose Craft to provide rescue assistance.”

The Coast Guard boat crew reached the scene and carried all 12 of the survivors to Crown Bay Marina, per the release. All passengers onboard were reported safe with no injuries.

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“This vessel grounding was a very close call and I commend our watchstanders and responding boat crew for their efforts rendering assistance to the people who were aboard the Bonnie G and bringing them to safe harbor,” Capt. José E. Díaz, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan said in the release. “There is still much work ahead of us to investigate and learn the causal factors of this incident.”

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The Bonnie G vessel company and Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment are working with response personnel in the U.S. Virgin Islands to evaluate a “current pollution threat,” according to the release, which stated that the ship was reportedly carrying “13,000 gallons of fuel and approximately 250 gallons of lube oil onboard,” along with six cars, one trailer, two pallets of cargo and a truck.

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In addition, the National Response Center and local authorities in the U.S. Virgin Islands were informed by the Coast Guard, according to the release.

The Coast Guard also notified the National Response Center and local authorities in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Díaz added in the release: “One of our main priorities is to assess the pollution threat from this vessel and ensure risks are properly managed and potentially hazardous chemicals are removed as quickly and safely as possible to maintain and protect the pristine waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

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