The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — A Coast Guard rescue crew towed the ferry vessel Fajardo II to the Culebra Island, Puerto Rico ferry terminal Monday and they assisted in disembarking all 59 passengers aboard.
The ferry Isleño towed the Fajardo II to the entrance of the Culebra harbor and then the Coast Guard Cutter Farallon resumed and completed the tow of the Fajardo II to the dock.
The Coast Guard was initially notified by the master of the Fajardo II at 9:10 p.m. Sunday stating that the vessel had lost steering causing the vessel to travel in a circle. The vessel was transiting from Culebra Island to Fajardo, Puerto Rico when it lost steering approximately eight nautical miles from the coast of Culebra. The 110-foot Coast Guard cutters Matinicus and Farallon were sent to assist the ferry.
The ferry Isleño arrived and towed the Fajardo II to outside of the harbor of Culebra. The Coast Guard ordered the ferry to not attempt to moor the Fajardo II to the dock until daylight to ensure the safety of the passengers and the four-man crew aboard the vessel. The Fajardo II was safely moored to the dock in Culebra at 10:03 a.m. Monday.
The Coast Guard is conducting an investigation of the cause of the steering failure.
Coast Guard Cutters Matinicus and Farallon are a 110-foot patrol boats homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
