Greek Amver Ship and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Rescue 2 Sailors

The efforts of a Greek Amver tanker and a U.S.C.G. Cutter have saved the lives of 2 male sailors in the Gulf of Mexico on July 6th.

The men who were rescued were a 70 year old man and a 35 year old companion who were journeying by sailboat to Guatemala from St. Louis. Their 30-foot boat suffered considerable damage to the rudder, about 180 miles east off the coast of Key West, Florida, leaving them stranded in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Amver system was used by the U.S.C.G. to identify the Greek tanker called the Petalouda, and managed by the Samos Steamship company of Athens, Greece. The captain of the 598-foot tanker was 40 miles away from the damaged sailboat when it picked up a distress location and coordinated the crew for rescue operations.

The Coast Guard had had also launched a c-130 Search Aircraft and dispatched the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma to the sailboat.

When the Petalouda approached the sailboat, they released a small boat and inspected the rudder. With the damage beyond an easy repair, they requested for them to board the tanker. The 70 year old sailor refused, leaving only his companion to evacuate the sailboat. The resistant sailor also cut a tow line between his boat and the Amver tanker. The Petalouda departed the scene with only the younger survivor.

Hours later, the U.S.C.G. Tahoma located the sailboat and convinced the 70 year old man to abandon his vessel and board the Cutter. They finally towed the sailboat to Key West, with both men safe and unharmed.