Previous Story
MV Saipan Express helps EMO in rescue of 2 men
|
Posted on Feb 09 2000
Emergency personnel has tapped the assistance of the Dynasty Hotel and Casino’s ferry arm, Tinian Shipping and Transportation Inc., in the rescue of two men who were aboard a distressed pleasure boat amid heavy rains and strong winds Saturday night.
Emergency Management Office Director Greg Deleon Guerrero asked assistance from TSTI in efforts to rescue the boat at least 20 miles west of Tinian.
TSTI general manager Peter Cheung said EMO requested the company to dispatch either of its two ferries which will be used in the rescue operation by joint EMO and Department of Public Safety personnel.
Mr. Cheung said TSTI dispatched MV Saipan Express upon confirmation of the arrival of the DPS rescue team at the Tinian Dock. The ferry was immediately put out to the sea as soon as the engine was ready by 8:25 p.m..
MV Saipan sailed towards the direction given by the U.S. Coast Guard but strong winds and heavy downpour resulted to a delay in the rescue of pleasure board CM285.
It took the rescue team about an hour of steaming before the first sighting of a red light on the starboard bow of MV Saipan Express, which then steered toward the light which only lasted for a short moment.
“In absolute darkness and heavy waves, it was difficult to see CM285 visually or by radar. So we switched on the ferry’s powerful searchlight to aid us in our search for CM285,” said Mr. Cheung.
While searching for the pleasure boat, another red light was seen fine on the port bow of MV Saipan Express.
“At about 50 feet off the port shoulder of the ferry, rescue team found a man holding a burning Hand Flare standing on the bow of the pleasure boat while another man was lying near the stern of CM285.
Once the sighting was reported, EMO-Saipan advised the rescue team that a U.S. Coast Guard Rescue 13 helicopter would be dispatched from Guam to the scene.
