JULY 18, 2014 — The Coast Guard has safely transferred 114 folks off a on line casino boat that ran aground and have become stranded about two miles northeast of Tybee Island, GA, Wednesday.
No air pollution or accidents have been reported.
The Escapade, a 174-foot vessel operated by Tradewinds Casino Cruise, Savannah, GA, was carrying 96 passengers and 31 workers and crewmembers when it grounded on a rocky backside.
The reason for the grounding is underneath Coast Guard investigation.
After 5 unsuccessful makes an attempt by a industrial salvage firm to tow the Escapade with all of the folks nonetheless aboard, a call was made to switch the passengers and non-essential workers and crew members to shore.
Coast Guard members aboard three 25-foot response boats and one 45-foot response boat from Station Tybee Island labored collectively to ferry 114 folks from the on line casino boat to the Coast Guard Cutters Maria Bray and Tarpon, that are bigger vessels able to carrying extra folks than the smaller response boats. Once all 114 folks have been aboard the cutters, each departed the world and took the folks to Coast Guard Station Tybee Island, the place EMTs have been standing by and vans have been out there to take them to their autos on the Escapade’s homeport in Savannah.
Two Coast Guard helicopters from Air Station Savannah, Georgia, hoisted 4 passengers who have been incapable of or uncomfortable climbing down the on line casino ship’s Jacob’s ladder to board the Coast Guard response boats.
“Members of all Coast Guard Sectors are well trained and prepared for mass rescue operations, but our hopes are not to have to exercise those plans,” mentioned Capt. Ric Rodriguez, command of Coast Guard Sector Charleston, South Carolina, which coordinated and oversaw the response. “Today’s response, which included support from Savannah-Chatham Marine Patrol, was well executed despite difficult circumstances. The safe evacuation of all passengers and crew aboard was our primary concern. I could not be more proud of the way our Coast Guard men and women responded and performed today.”
Seven Escapade crew members remained aboard the ship to watch it till a industrial salvage firm might once more try to to tow the vessel.
