42 People Rescued after Abandoning Ship off Hawaii

Posted by Eric Haun February 11, 2016

An aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point dropped a dewatering pump and supplies to 42 people who abandoned ship after their fishing vessel caught fire 1,800 miles south of Hawaii. The Hercules crew worked with Fong Seong 888, a Tuvalu-flagged oil tanker, to rescue the crew of the fishing vessel American Eagle. (Screenshot from USCG video courtesy of Air Station Barbers Point)

Forty-two people are safe after abandoning ship approximately 1,800 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands, Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.

Crewmembers successfully dewatered fishing vessel American Eagle using equipment dropped by an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Barbers Point. Thirty crewmembers are currently aboard the fishing vessel cleaning and assessing damage after a fire broke out Wednesday.

AMVER vessel Fong Seong 888, a Tuvalu-flagged oil tanker, remains on-scene to provide additional support.

American Eagle’s sister ship, American Victory, is en route and scheduled to arrive in three days to relieve the Fong Seong 888.

The Hercules airplane crew is scheduled to arrive at Air Station Barbers Point Thursday evening.