Landing craft takes on water, loses power off Puerto Rico

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
 
(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — Coast Guard rescue crews are assisting a 118-foot landing craft cargo vessel Friday with dewatering and stabilization efforts, after the vessel started taking on water and lost power to both engines Thursday, approximately half a mile west of Mona Island, Puerto Rico.
 
The Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague arrived on scene Thursday and the crew disembarked five crewmembers from the landing craft, Don Alejandro José Padilla, transporting them to safety aboard the Chincoteague’s small boat to Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Three other crewmembers remain onboard working with rescue crews to dewater and stabilize the vessel.
The crew of the Chincoteague embarked a Rescue and Assistance Team with two dewatering pumps and additional equipment, while the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla HH-65 Dolphin lowered two additional dewatering pumps to control the flooding.
The owners are coordinating salvage efforts to deliver additional dewatering pumps and fuel to the landing craft and transport a team of divers and welders to conduct initial repairs of the vessel.
The Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague is a 110-foot patrol boat home ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
By Professional Mariner Staff