The Seafarers-crewed Faust, operated by Pacific-Gulf Marine, recently rescued five people from a 54-foot sport fishing boat that was taking on water near Hampton, Va. The rescue took place Dec. 7.According to a report by Faust Captain Darren McGowan, the vessel had departed Baltimore bound for Charleston, S.C. Approximately one hour into the voyage, the Faust received a distress call from the M/V Sniper. The fishing boat, roughly five miles southwest from the Faust, had hit something and was taking on water.
AB Daniel Cruz steered the ship toward the Sniper, while the Hampton Roads (Va.) Coast Guard, alerted by the Faust, also dispatched a rescue craft.
McGowan credited Bosun Erik Penia, AB Trevorous Ellison, and OSs Benigno Ledesma Jr. and Jarrod Pestana with rigging both pilot ladders and helping prepare the fast rescue boat.
“Soon after we reported that the rescue boat was in the water, USCG Hampton Roads directed us to take all persons on board the Sniper on board Faust, stating that sport fishing boats are known to sink quickly once they start to take on water,” McGowan wrote. “The arrival of the Coast Guard boat was reported to be over one hour away.
“After two trips, all five passengers from Sniper were safely on board Faust, including a 15-year-old boy.”
The rescue boat resumed its position near the Sniper – which had sustained a five-foot hole in its starboard bow – because two people from the fishing boat wanted to continue with efforts to stabilize it. Those two were picked up by the Coast Guard about 30 minutes later, with the Faust’s rescue boat still on the scene (in case the fishermen had needed to make a quicker departure from their boat).
McGowan concluded, “All aspects of the rescue were accomplished flawlessly. The teamwork, actions and professionalism displayed by the crew during the rescue was exemplary. Their efforts and commitment to the safety of life at sea should be an inspiration for all that work in the maritime industry.”
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