MIAMI — The Coast Guard rescued seven mariners Wednesday afternoon whose freighter sank about 25 miles north of Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic.
The crew of the 196-foot bulk carrier Explorer 1, which included five Dominicans and two Kenyans, notified their ship agent via satellite phone that they were taking on water, and the ship agent contacted Coast Guard search and rescue coordinators around 2:30 p.m.
The Coast Guard immediately launched an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, in support of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos to assist the mariners.
Once on scene, the Jayhawk crew safely hoisted the seven mariners who had already abandoned ship and were in their life raft.
The mariners were safely transported to Providenciales.
