The U.S. Coast Guard responded to a report of a cargo ship with 12 crew members aboard reportedly sinking, 51 nautical miles northwest of Haiti, Thursday night.
The 212-foot cargo ship reportedly started sinking earlier in the evening due to the severe weather conditions from Hurricane Joaquin.
Coast Guard 7th District Command Center watchstanders received a relay message from Her Majesty’s Coast Guard after they received an Inmarsat satellite message stating the Bolivian-flagged cargo ship Minouche, listing 30 degrees to port and all 12 crew members aboard were making preparations to abandon ship.
The Coast Guard immediately diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Northland and launched a helicopter crew forward deployed in Great Inagua, Bahamas.
A good Samaritan vessel and member of the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System, commonly referred to as AMVER, has also been diverted to the vessels last known position. Updates to follow.