Tanker Saves 27 saefarers After Tuna Vessel Fire
A commercial chemical tanker has rescued 27 seafarers after a tuna fishing vessel caught fire and sank in the Eastern Pacific, highlighting the lifesaving role of merchant ships in open-ocean rescues, The Maritime Telegraph reports.
The incident occurred on February 1, when the Venezuelan-flagged tuna seiner La Pena suffered a serious onboard fire about 500 nautical miles north-northwest of the Galápagos Islands, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. With the blaze out of control, the crew abandoned the vessel and escaped in a single lifeboat before the ship went down.
The U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) Alameda received a satellite distress signal and established contact with the survivors. The crew reported they were adrift without lifejackets or emergency supplies, relying on limited communications while awaiting help, the Coast Guard said.
Despite the remote location, the emergency unfolded near major Pacific shipping routes. Using the AMVER system, the Coast Guard identified nearby merchant vessels. The Liberian-flagged chemical tanker Seaways Kenosha voluntarily diverted from its voyage and headed toward the distress position.
The tanker reached the lifeboat at approximately 03:30 local time and carried out a swift recovery. All 27 crew members were safely taken aboard and were later reported to be in stable condition with no serious injuries, according to the Coast Guard.
After completing the rescue, Seaways Kenosha resumed its commercial voyage to La Pampilla, Peru. The Coast Guard credited the successful outcome to timely distress communications and the continued cooperation of merchant vessels participating in AMVER, a system widely seen as a cornerstone of global maritime safety.
