The Coast Guard immediately responded to a fire aboard the 561-foot passenger ferry vessel Caribbean Fantasy approximately half a mile off of Punta Salinas which broke out on Wednesday August 17th. The fire, which began in the engine room, spread to other compartments on board, which led to the entire ship’s evacuation. USCG and local police evacuated 512 passengers and crew members who they were taken to Pier 6 in San Juan port where emergency service personnel received them for medical evaluations.
At approximately 7:42 a.m. Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a report of a fire aboard a Panamanian-flagged passenger/cargo ship carrying 511 passengers, including crew en route from the Dominican Republic. Initial reports indicated a manifest of 512, however the vessel returned to port in the Dominican Republic to disembark one passenger earlier in its voyage.
At 10:21 a.m. Wednesday the Caribbean Fantasy ran aground approximately half a nautical mile offshore of Punta Salinas.
The Coast Guard has established a 1,000-yard safety zone around the vessel. No reports of sheening or pollution around the vessel at this time.
Multiple Coast Guard surface and air assets were committed to the response effort and worked with local Puerto Rican marine police, fire, pilot and commercial tug boats from the port, as well as the Puerto Rico Joint Forces of Action (FURA), Customs and Border Protection marine units and good Samaritans to effect the rescue.
A Unified Command comprised of federal, state and industry agencies and organizations has been established at Coast Guard Sector San Juan to manage the incident and salvage efforts of the Caribbean Fantasy.
Source & Image Credit: USCG
