Three rescued as tug takes on water, sinks off Puerto Rico

Coast Guard Responds To A Major Marine Casualty Near Puerto Rico

(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — The U.S. Coast Guard responded to a marine casualty Thursday south of Puerto Rico. Sector San Juan watch standers received a mayday call from the 112-foot tugboat Proassist III crew stating they were taking on water with three people aboard approximately 2 miles south of Yabucoa Harbor.

A good Samaritan embarked the three people from Proassist III and took them ashore with no reported injuries.

The tug is reported to have approximately 1,100 gallons of diesel fuel on board.

A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter air crew overflew the position Friday and observed a sheen beginning approximately .25 miles east of Yabucoa and extending 1.5 miles to the southwest with a width of 1.5 miles.

Sector San Juan Incident Management Division (IMD) personnel are working with the owner to develop a salvage plan and removal of all diesel fuel from the vessel.

Vessel owners are encouraged to hire a salvage company to recover their vessels in order to provide the safest removal method possible for the public and environment.

To report pollution, please contact the National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.

– U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard Responds To A Major Marine Casualty Near Puerto Rico
A Coast Guard air crew photo shows a life raft adrift Dec. 24 south of Yabucoa Harbor, Puerto Rico. U.S. Coast Guard photo
By Professional Mariner Staff