4 Atlantic rowers were rescued by an Amver ship from their capsized rowboat 380 miles north of Puerto Rico on Saturday April 6, 2013.The rowers, two Americans and 2 Canadians, were 73 days into an expedition rowing a 29 foot boat, the James Robert Hanssen, from Senegal to Miami to raise awareness for the Canadian Wildlife Foundation. The boat capsized after being stuck by a large wave forcing the crew to climb into their emergency life raft and activate their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).
U.S. Coast Guard rescue authorities in San Juan were alerted to the distress early Saturday morning and sent a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry rescue aircraft and a C-130 rescue aircraft to search for the rowers. Rescue authorities also used the Amver system to find the 800 foot automobile carrier Heijin to divert and assist in the rescue. Another Amver participant, the Russian product tanker Tanais Leader was also diverted but was released from the rescue effort.
The Panamanian flagged car carrier was sailing from Newark to San Juan and was only 170 miles from the row boat when the captain agreed to assist and help. The captain was able to locate the life raft and safely embark the four survivors. "We are giving them food and water, if they need medical attention we have the facility to do so," stated the captain of the Heijin.
The uninjured survivors were taken to Puerto Rico and met by U.S. Coast Guard and Customs officials who brought them ashore.
The Heijin, managed by NYK Shipmanagement Pte of Singapore, enrolled in the Amver system on January 1, 1990. The Tanais Leader, managed by Rosshipcom Marine of Cyprus, enrolled in the Amver system on January 1, 1988.
Photo credit: marinetraffic.com
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