NYK car carrier Heijin has rescued four men rowing across the Atlantic from Africa, including a gold medal Olympian, who were spotted in a life raft,
NYK ro-ro ships rescues 4 environmental activists rowing across Atlantic
NYK car carrier Heijin has rescued four men rowing across the Atlantic from Africa, including a gold medal Olympian, who were spotted in a life raft, after their rowboat capsized.
The environmental activities had been rowing from Senegal to Miami as part of Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) project to collect readings on water temperature, salinity, alkalinity and currents.
The two Americans and two Canadians, including Canadian Olympic Gold medallist rowing champion Adam Kreek left Dakar, Senegal, were in an 8.8 metre ocean rowboat for Miami on January 23. They were rescued in good health off Puerto Rico.
"We took four years to prepare for the worst-case scenario and faced our emergency with courage and teamwork," wrote Mr Kreek on the CWF website. "We hope our experience will help impressionable minds become adventurers, scientists, explorers and conservationists."
NYK said the Heijin was heading to San Juan from Newark when at 0728 hrs, the vessel received a call from the US Coast Guard indicating that three separate distress beacons had been activated near the Heijin's location and a nearby craft may have overturned or capsized, leaving those on board in distress.
Asked for assistance, the Heijin kept close contact with the coast guard as it headed for the beacons. A hand flare was sighted at 1745 hrs and 15 minutes later the life raft was located. It took an hour for the crew of the car carrier to lift the four rowers from the life raft and onboard their vessel to safety.
After the rescue operation, the Heijin resumed its voyage to San Juan, where the four rowers were handed over to the coast guard.
