HERCULES LEADER

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Car carrier saved crew of sinking catamaran

The crew of the "Hercules Leader" enroute from Jacksonville to Gibraltar assisted in the rescue of the crew of six of the 75-ft-catamaran "Ninah" on JAn 19, 2017. Wachstanders with the 5th Coast Guard District in Portsmouth coordinated the rescue operation 275 miles southwest of Bermuda. They received an emergency position indicating radio beacon alert and notification from the Rescue Coordination Center in Bermuda that the "Ninah" had been struck by a rogue wave early this morning and was taking on water. The watchstanders directed the launch of an airplane crew, from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and diverted the "Hercules Leader", an Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER), to the catamaran’s location. The six sailors abandoned their sinking vessel and were rescued from their life raft by the crew of the "Hercules Leader". The sailors were taken to Bermuda. The car carrier was met off the east end by the pilot boat "St David" in the morning of Jan 20. The crew, which include Bermudians, were disembarked and transported to Ordnance Island in St. George’s , where family members and friends awaited their arrival. The crew’s preparedness earned them high praise from the U.S. Coast Guard, who assisted in coordinating the rescue, and said "The crew of the Ninah were well prepared for their voyage and had a plethora of safety and emergency equipment aboard their vessel. Their preparation, along with the invaluable assistance from the crew of the AMVER vessel Hercules Leader, contributed to their rescue.” Report with photos and video: http://bernews.com/2017/01/photosvideo-rescued-ninah-crew-arrive-home/