Fishing crew rescued from vessel ablaze MIAMI – Crews from a Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter are currently rescuing 14 fishermen off a 72-foot Bahamian fishing vessel which is on fire approximately 50 miles northwest of Nassau, Bahamas. Coast Guard District Seven’s command center in Miami recieved notification of the vessel in distress at approximately 9:30, a.m. The vessel was spotted by civilian aircraft flying overhead who observed the fire while transitting the area. The pilot notified the Air Force Rescue Center in Langley, Va., who further notified the Coast Guard. The Jayhawk helicopter, deployed with Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, was immediately launched to the scene. While enroute, the passengers of the vessel abandoned ship and seeked refuge aboard the vessel’s deployable dinghy. Upon the Jayhawk’s arrival, a rescue swimmer was lowered to the water to ensure the people were safe and accounted for. The helicopter crew began safely hoisting the passengers on board. The survivors will be transported ashore in Nickeltown, Bahamas. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the incident is under investigation. Fishing crew rescued from vessel ablaze MIAMI – Crews from a Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter are currently rescuing 14 fishermen off a 72-foot Bahamian fishing vessel which is on fire approximately 50 miles northwest of Nassau, Bahamas. Coast Guard District Seven’s command center in Miami recieved notification of the vessel in distress at approximately 9:30, a.m. The vessel was spotted by civilian aircraft flying overhead who observed the fire while transitting the area. The pilot notified the Air Force Rescue Center in Langley, Va., who further notified the Coast Guard. The Jayhawk helicopter, deployed with Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, was immediately launched to the scene. While enroute, the passengers of the vessel abandoned ship and seeked refuge aboard the vessel’s deployable dinghy. Upon the Jayhawk’s arrival, a rescue swimmer was lowered to the water to ensure the people were safe and accounted for. The helicopter crew began safely hoisting the passengers on board. The survivors will be transported ashore in Nickeltown, Bahamas. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the incident is under investigation.
