UPDATE: CANCEL CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. KINGFISHER, a commercial Bahamian fishing vessel, CONDITION STABILIZED AS OF December 16, 2019 at 0700 Eastern Time.
A big thank you to Eddie Whan, Chairman of BASRA for the following information and coordinating the rescue effort last night.
BASRA launched a boat out of Sandy Point. They searched for a couple of hours with no luck. The distressed vessel gave incorrect location. BASRA then received another update from the distressed vessel by this time it was after 1900 and dark. Basra contacted USCG with the updated information who then immediately dispatched a helo. The helo located the vessel. The captain stated they were taking on water. We lifted 4 crew off and took them into Sandy Point , the other 2 remained on the vessel. BASRA & USCG gave the two remaining crew additional pumps and a Personal Locating Beacon (PLB) to use in case they had further problems. Great job by BASRA and USCG who are monitoring the situation.
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December 15,2019 – URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED NEAR GREAT ABACO ISLAND, BAHAMAS.
At 1710 hrs, 15 DEC 2019, the USCG Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) Miami, Florida has asked for assistance with a vessel in distress at location 25 57.994 N / 077 21.982 W or approx. 3.5 NM SE of Rock Point, Great Abaco Island. The vessel is a 46-foot Hatteras sailing vessel with six (6) Persons on Board with life jackets on. The vessel has lost its rudder and is taking on water. The vessel is in too deep of water to anchor. Vessel’s name is unknown at this time.
The USCG requests that all vessels in the area of the South end of Great Abaco Island near the intersection of the Northeast Providence Channel and the Northwest Providence Channel keep a sharp lookout of this vessel in distress, assist if possible, and report any sightings to the USCG on VHF Channel 16 or telephone number 305-415-6800.