U.S. Coast Guard photos courtesy Coast Guard Cutter Assateague.
SANTA RITA, Guam — The Coast Guard rescued six mariners from a grounded fishing vessel near Alamagan Island, Monday.
"Cooperation between the CNMI Emergency Operations Center, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam and a concerned citizen on Alamagan led to the successful rescue of these mariners," said Lt. William White, public affairs officer at Coast Guard Sector Guam. "With such a vast area of responsibility and a limited number of resources, we understand that cooperation is essential to providing search and rescue capabilities throughout the region."
The crew of the USCGC Assateague, a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in Guam, rescued all six men and safely transported them to awaiting EMS in Saipan. No injuries were reported.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Guam received notification from an individual on Alamagen Island, Sunday, that the 31-foot fishing vessel Shekinah 2 grounded approximately 100 yards from shore.
Assateague's crew launched from Guam at 9 a.m., Sunday , and transited more than 295 miles to Shekinah 2’s position.
The Assateague is an Island Class patrol boat. The crew is responsible for search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, ports waterways and coastal security, and national defense missions in Guam, the CNMI and Oceania.