The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(PORTSMOUTH, Va.) — Coast Guard personnel coordinated the rescue of a French mariner 600 miles off the coast of Bermuda using the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) System on Wednesday.
Watch standers at the 5th Coast Guard District command center received the initial report from the Rescue Coordination Center Gris Nez at approximately 2:25 a.m., that the sailboat of a French mariner had struck a submerged object and was taking on water, forcing him to abandon ship in his dingy.
The 5th District command center activated the AMVER System to alert good Samaritan vessels to the emergent situation. The containership Nevzat Kalkavan, one of four merchant ships in the area that answered the call, brought the mariner safely aboard.
"Without the support of the four merchant vessels who voluntarily responded to assist, the mariner could have perished at sea due to the distance offshore," said Lt. Daniel Dunn, Command Duty Officer for the 5th Coast Guard District command center. "These vessels have all enrolled in AMVER, which is a lifesaving program where commercial mariners volunteer to aid distressed persons and vessels at sea."
