Coast Guard rescue crews combined efforts Saturday with the 800-foot Panamanian flag automobile carrier, Heijin, and the 600-foot Russian flag chemical-tank ship, Tanais Leader, to rescue four men from a life raft in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 380 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico.
The rescued men, who work for the Canadian Wildlife Foundation, were on the 73 day of an estimated 100-day voyage that originated in Dakar, Senegal and would finalize in Miami, when their journey ended abruptly and they were forced to embark the row boat’s emergency life raft.
“The great coordination and swift response between our Coast Guard rescue crews and international mariners aboard the Heijin and the Tanais Leader saved four lives from the perils of the sea,” said Capt. Drew W. Pearson, Sector San Juan Commander.
