A capsized rower was rescued by the crew of a Liberian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic Ocean east of Puerto Rico. The rower, Benoit Bourguet, 47, had been competing in the World's Toughest Row Race when his vessel, City of Liverpool, was struck by rogue waves and capsized.
Watchstanders at the US Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center received distress signals from Bourguet's life raft and contacted other vessels in the area for assistance. The tanker, Horten, diverted its course to locate the distress signal and eventually rescued Bourguet after a 24-hour ordeal.
The successful rescue was made possible by the coordination between the Coast Guard and the tanker's crew, who had participated in the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) program. The incident highlights the importance of mariners having functional Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) devices that are properly registered with the NOAA database.
Bourguet was dehydrated but otherwise in good health after his rescue and had maintained his capsized vessel tied to the life raft until he was rescued. The Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center praised the professionalism, seamanship, and compassion displayed by the tanker's crew during the rescue operation.
The incident also underscores the importance of mariners standing ready to help one another in distress situations.
The seamless coordination between the US Coast Guard and the tanker's crew is a testament to the effectiveness of the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) program, which relies on voluntary participation from mariners. The incident also highlights the critical role that EPIRB devices play in emergency situations.
