On March 8, the crew of the US Navy destroyer USS James E. Williams helped rescue 26 people from a vessel in distress 48 miles southeast of Long Key attempting to illegally enter the United States. The US Coast Guard received a notification from a good Samaritan boat reporting for a 30-foot disabled wooden sail vessel with passengers waiving for help.
Specifically, a US Navy vessel that was conducting maritime operations in the area, helped the passengers.
The crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) arrived on the area of the incident and safely transferred the 26 Cuban migrants to the Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton crew (WPC-1108).
One amongst the 26 migrants was transmitted to US Customs and Border Patrol for additional investigation and possible prosecution.
In addition, the 25 migrants remaining were repatriated to Cuba on February 12, by the Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore (WPC-1109).
Capt. Jason Ryan, chief of enforcement for the Coast Guard’s Seventh District in Miami commented that itis fortunate that the vessel did not capsize and a tragedy was prevented.
Coast Guard Cutters Charles Sexton crew and Kathleen Moore are 154-foot fast response cutters homeported in Key West, Florida.
