Sailors Rescued After Mariposa Sinks Near Dominican Republic

Four sailors from the sunken vessel Mariposa were successfully rescued near the Dominican Republic thanks to a coordinated effort involving the US Coast Guard (USCG), the Crowley container ship El Coqui, and the fishing vessel Bonanza.

The incident occurred on January 21st while the Mariposa was sailing from St. Croix to Portofino, Texas. According to the survivors, the vessel struck an underwater rock, and a strong wave caused it to capsize and hit another rock, breaching the hull. The damage led to the vessel taking on water and ultimately sinking.

The US Coast Guard Sector San Juan received an Emergency Positioning Radio Beacon (EPIRB) signal that morning from a location roughly 180 miles northwest of Puerto Rico. The El Coqui, en route from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Jacksonville, Florida, was redirected to assist with the rescue.

A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft was the first to spot the sailors on a life raft. Although the fishing vessel Bonanza was nearby, the Coast Guard aircraft could not communicate directly with it. Instead, the aircraft made several low passes over the Bonanza to guide it toward the life raft.

The Bonanza successfully rescued the four sailors and transferred them to the El Coqui, which was on standby. The El Coqui then continued its journey to Jacksonville, where it was scheduled to arrive on January 23rd.

The Coast Guard highlighted the crucial role of emergency equipment like the EPIRB, which significantly narrowed the search area and facilitated the rescue efforts.