A crewman aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry tosses a heaving line to set up a tow to the crew of the luxury yacht Black Pearl 1 after responding to a distress call on July 21, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard rescued 26 people over the weekend from two vessels in distress in the Western Pacific.
The first was a 154-foot yacht designed for scuba diving excursions of a week or more. The second was a 28-foot recreational boat carrying migrants seeking entry to Guam.
The Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry on Sunday and Monday towed the yacht, the Black Pearl 1, and its crew of 11 to Palau after the boat was disabled and began to take on water.
The Black Pearl 1, a luxury yacht designed for fishing expeditions, was en route to Cebu, Philippines, for maintenance when its rudder locked about 230 miles west of Palau, Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam spokeswoman Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir wrote in a Sunday news release.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam alerted a nearby U.S. cargo vessel, the SLNC York, and the Oliver Henry, which was on a routine patrol of the region.
The York arrived just after midnight Sunday and found the ship’s crew attempting repairs and in no need of assistance, Muir said.
However, the Oliver Henry arrived about six hours later and found the the Black Pearl 1 still unable to steer and now taking on water. Coast guardsmen boarded the vessel to assist, while the cutter began towing it back to Palau.
The Oliver Henry and the yacht arrived there safely around 2 p.m. Monday with no injuries reported, Muir told Stars and Stripes by email that day.
The yacht, owned by Pearl Fleet, weighs nearly 500 tons and can accommodate up to 24 guests. An eight-day diving trip aboard the yacht costs $2,940 per person, according to Pearl Fleet’s website.
A spokesperson for the company did not respond to a call and email requesting comment.
A rescue team from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry approaches the luxury yacht Black Pearl 1 about 230 miles west of Palau, July 21, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard)
Third rescue ‘of this type’
On Sunday, first responders from Saipan reported the recreational vessel in distress about 24 miles south of Saipan, according to a news release from Muir on Monday.
Weather conditions and lack of communication from the distressed vessel led to an urgent request from Saipan for help from anyone nearby.
A MH-60S Seahawk helicopter from the Navy’s Sea Combat Squadron 25 spotted the vessel around 5:20 p.m. and evacuated two boaters before it had to return to refuel.
The naval logistics vessel USNS Jack Lummus arrived about two hours later and evaluated the remaining 13 people.
All were taken to Saipan, where they were met by various law enforcement agencies.
The vessel’s final destination was not clear as of Monday evening, Muir told Stars and Stripes in a separate email. One boater told the Coast Guard they were headed to Rota, but Muir said it was “possible Guam was the final destination.” She identified the occupants as three U.S. citizens and 12 Chinese citizens.
“This is the third significant rescue of this type we’ve effected between Guam and the CNMI since January,” Coast Guard Lt. Chelsea Garcia, search and rescue mission coordinator, said in the news release. “While this case appears to involve the transit of foreign nationals from the CNMI, we cannot comment further on the ongoing law enforcement investigation.”
Saipan regularly serves as a point of departure for Chinese citizens attempting to illegally enter Guam — usually in search of work — due to a visa waiver program offered by Saipan.
