Liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Stena Crystal Sky recently rescued two American citizens from their stranded yacht off the west coast of Mexico.
According to a statement by the Glasgow-based crew management company, Northern Marine Manning Services, the LNG carrier received a distress call via the U.S. Coast Guard on January 18.
“The ship’s crew set off on a 185-mile rescue mission through stormy conditions to the stranded yacht ‘Jaunt’ and its occupants Don Spitler and Elizabeth Anderson,” the statement said.
The pair was on their way from Cabo San Lucas in Mexico bound for the Cook Islands via the Marquesas when they found themselves in unexpected heavy seas and an estimated 3m swell. The challenging conditions and resulting violent motion of the boat caused damaged to the rudder and destroyed the yacht’s auto-pilot mechanism.
The coast guard was alerted by the pair when the boat’s bilge pump capability failed and they were unable to limit water ingress.
“Arriving at the scene, the Stena Crystal Sky deployed a rescue boat, commanded by Second Officer John Giffin, and ably assisted by Third Officer James Hamilton, Third Engineer Shaun Reid and AB Seaman Alejandro Flores,” the statement reads.
Battling difficult conditions, the crew brought Don and Elizabeth safely back to the LNG carrier, it added.