SARAH DANN

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12 migrants apprehended on barge under tow to San Juan

The US Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection partners apprehended 12 stowaway migrants on Nov 25, 2023, , during the escort of the 'Sarah Dann' was towing a barge into the port of San Juan, Puerto Rico.The quick response and close collaboration of all responding Coast Guard and partner agency units prevented a tragic outcome and accounted for the safety of all the stowaways in this case. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received notification from a Coast Guard Station San Juan boat crew at 8:34 a.m., of a possible stowaway sighting aboard the barge that was being towed by the tug. Coast Guard Sector San Juan’s Boarding Team responded to the report and found nine stowaways aboard the barge, including one who was unresponsive. One unresponsive stowaway was reported to be breathing and have vital signs. The boarding team also learned that three other stowaways in the group had jumped into the water during the vessel’s transit just off the entrance of San Juan. Coast Guard watchstanders directed Coast Guard on-scene units to search for the three reported stowaways in the water, while a Puerto Rico Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit also responded to assist. Shortly thereafter, U.S. Border Patrol authorities apprehended two of the stowaways who were able to swim to shore, while the remaining stowaway was rescued from the water by a boat of the Coast Guard Station San Juan. A boat of the Station San Juan transported the nine stowaways from the barge to the Coast Guard Base San Juan. where Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations units received custody, while the unresponsive stowaway was received and transported by Emergency Medical Service personnel to a local hospital. The tug berthed at the Gulf Oil Terminal Bayamon on Nov 27.