Container Ship And Fishing Trawler Run Into A Collision, 13 Rescued

Everyone is safe in what easily could’ve been one of the major ocean tragedies — all credit to fellow boaters and, of course, the Coast Guard.

A 115-foot commercial fishing vessel dubbed the Tremont and a 1,000-foot container vessel known as the MSC Rita collided in the Atlantic close to 63 miles toward the southeast of Chincoteague.

F/V Tremont started taking on water and sinking, per the Coast Guard. The fishing boat sent out a mayday call at about 2 am on 28 October to Coast Guard Sector Virginia; 13 individuals had been onboard the sinking vessel.

USCG first launched a helicopter, a Motor Life Boat crew, and a Hercules plane and reportedly diverted the USCGC Rollin Fritch for further assistance.

Video Credits: WAVY TV 10 / YouTube

The Research Vessel named Atlantis, a Navy oceanographic research vessel that the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ran, was in that area, as was a second vessel named Drystan.
Two of the Good Samaritan boats reached before the Coast Guard did.

The Atlantis reportedly launched a small boat to transfer 12 Tremont crew members to the Drystan. The helicopter crew members hoisted Tremont’s captain from the sinking vessel.

The crew members of the Tremont were taken to Station Chincoteague in the Coast Guard boat with no injuries.

Per maritime sources, the MSC Rita had been on its way to Charleston from New York, planning to arrive on Saturday. There’s no update on if the collision delayed the trip, but the Coast Guard reported no damages or injuries.

Coast Guard leaders state that without the appropriate people stepping in at the right time, the outcome of such a collision could’ve been different.

Safety of life at sea is the Coast Guard’s top priority, mentioned captain Jennifer Stockwell, the commander of Sector Virginia.

These are life-saving missions for which training is provided every day. While this event was unfortunate, 13 individuals were rescued from a difficult situation.

The efforts of the good Samaritans and the Coast Guard response assets highlight a selfless commitment to others.

References: Chesapeake Bay Magazine, ABC News

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