The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(MOBILE, Ala.) — The Coast Guard rescued four people from the tug boat, Ramrod, in the Gulf of Mexico, 90 miles south of Destin, Fla., Friday.
Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a call from a crewmember aboard the tug boat reporting the boat was taking on water with four people onboard. The people moved from the sinking tug boat to one of the barges being towed by the vessel.
Coast Guard launched a HU-25 Falcon jet crew from the Aviation Training Center in Mobile and the Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk, home-ported in Carrabelle, Fla. The Seahawk recovered the four people and transported them safely to St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Fla.
The abandoned barges were recovered by the motor vessel Lucky Seven.
