Amver ships rescue 35 migrants in April

Three different Amver participating ships rescued a total of 35 Cuban migrants this month. Two cruise ships and and oil tanker, all in the Caribbean, saved the migrants who were in rustic rafts.

C/S Independence of the Seas

The first case was reported by the cruise ship Independence of the Seas on Monday, April 7, 2014. The crew of the ship reported to U.S. Coast Guard personnel they had located a rustic raft 81 miles southwest of Key West, Fla. The cruise ship safely embarked 13 migrants and transferred them to the Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton.

The Independence of the Seas has been an Amver participant since June 15, 2008 and has earned two Amver participation awards.

C/S Disney Wonder

The second case was reported by the cruise ship Disney Wonder which spotted a rustic vessel 20 miles southeast of Islamorada, Fla. on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. The crew of the Disney Wonder safely embarked six migrants and eventually transferred them to the Coast Guard Cutter Yered.

The Disney  Wonder enrolled in Amver on July 20, 1999 and has earned 15 Amver participation awards.

M/V Formosa Falcon

The third cases was reported by the Amver tanker Formosa Falcon, managed by Formosa Plastics Marine Corp, on Monday, April 21, 2014. The tanker embarked 16 migrants who reported being adrift for 20 days. The Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback met the Liberian flagged tanker and transferred the migrants.

The Formosa Falcon enrolled in Amver on May 21, 2013.

Photo credit: USCG file photo