Two fishermen are safe after the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard assisted their vessel, which was drifting at sea after running out of fuel.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Martinique alerted the Coast Guard’s Maritime Operations Centre after receiving distress signals through VHF Channel Sixteen.
Initial attempts to communicate with the vessel were unsuccessful, and its location remained unknown.
Relatives of the captain launched a boat to search for the fishermen but could not find them.
A nearby tanker eventually spotted the vessel. Although the tanker could not provide a tow, its captain reported the location—approximately nine-and-a-half miles southwest of Sint Maarten.
With the vessel’s position confirmed, the Coast Guard dispatched a Metal Shark rescue craft.
The fishing boat was located and safely towed to the Coast Guard pier in Sint Maarten.
Officials say both fishermen were in good health when they arrived ashore.