(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan watch standers and the crew of the Liberian-flagged tanker Horten rescued a capsized rower in the Atlantic Ocean east of Puerto Rico on Wednesday night.
Benoit Bourguet, 47, a Belgium citizen, was rescued after his single-man rowboat, City of Liverpool, was reportedly struck by two rogue waves and capsized in 13- to 15-foot seas, which forced Bourguet to deploy and board his life raft.
Bourguet was reportedly competing in the World’s Toughest Row Race, a 3,000-mile rowing event from San Sebastian de la Gomera, Spain, to Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua. No other vessels in the race have been reported to be in distress.
Coast Guard Sector San Juan watch standers received an unregistered 406-MHz EPIRB signal from City of Liverpool at approximately 2 a.m. Wednesday, alerting of a possible distress approximately 1,100 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico. Afterward, watch standers received a second 406-MHz emergency distress signal from a personal locating beacon from the same area. Watch standers were able to contact the race safety coordinator, who confirmed they had not been able to contact Bourguet after numerous messages had gone unanswered.
Watch standers issued an Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) callout to contact the 1,092-foot Horten and enhanced group calling (EGC) to notify other vessels in the vicinity to be on the lookout. They also contacted the rowboat Old Sea Dogs, also participating in the race, which made VHF radio callouts to Bourguet. However, these calls also went unanswered.
Horten, which was en route from Germany to Guyana, received the AMVER communication and diverted for over 12 hours, transiting approximately 110 miles to the distress signal’s position. During the response, Coast Guard watch standers maintained communication with Horten’s crew, providing updates about the beacon’s position.
Once in the vicinity, Horten’s crew sighted a life raft and confirmed a survivor. Due to heavy seas, the Horten crew used a life ring to safely recover Bourguet. He was dehydrated but otherwise in good health, and reported being in distress for approximately 24 hours. He also maintained his capsized vessel tied to the life raft until his rescue.
“We are very proud of the seamless coordination between our Sector San Juan Command Center watch standers and the courageous crew and captain of the motor tanker Horten, which resulted in the successful rescue of a mariner,” said Lt. Kenneth Snyder, Coast Guard Sector San Juan mission coordinator for the case. “The Horten’s participation in the AMVER program was critical and the crew’s selflessness and swift response embody the spirit of this voluntary program, where mariners stand ready to help one another. It is a true reflection of professionalism and compassion that defines the maritime community. We extend our appreciation to the race safety coordinator and participants who helped confirm the distress, and highlight the importance of mariners having a functional EPIRB that is properly registered in the NOAA database.”
“We are immensely proud of our crew, whose professionalism, exemplary display of good seamanship in challenging circumstances and close coordination with the United States Coast Guard helped save a life today,” said Tanuj Luthra, chief operating officer of Zodiac Maritime, Horten’s managing company. “This demonstrates Zodiac Maritime’s unwavering commitment to safety, and our responsibility to protect all lives at sea.”
Horten and race coordinators will be coordinating Bourguet’s transfer from the ship.
– U.S. Coast Guard
