FALMOUTH COASTGUARD ASSISTING STRICKEN YACHT OFF SEYCHELLES

Falmouth Coastguard is currently involved in a search and rescue operation in the Indian Ocean.

At 0830 this morning the Falmouth Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) received a satellite call from a 45ft yacht with three people on board, including a British national, around 300 miles south of the Seychelles. 

The vessel has suffered severe damage to its main rudder and is taking on water, with crew using pumps to limit the amount of water taken onboard.  

Falmouth MRCC has requested a Maersk tanker in the region to divert to the yacht's location. The tanker’s estimated time of arrival is around 1930 UK time, due to adverse weather conditions in the area. The seas are rough to very rough with wind speeds in excess of 25 knots.

Falmouth has also alerted nearby authorities, including the Seychelles Coastguard, and other resources in the region.  

Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager, Martin Bidmead, said: "The yacht’s remote location presents a number of challenges and the Falmouth MRCC has alerted the Seychelles Coastguard and other vessels in the region to get the search and rescue operation under way and assist the crew of this yacht as quickly as possible. We continue to be in touch with the vessel providing advice and updates.”

Update: Tuesday 24/06/2014 - 10:35am

Three people have been rescued from their sinking yacht off the Seychelles – thanks to assistance from the Falmouth Coastguard.  

The crew – all British – had been desperately pumping and bailing out the UK-registered vessel as it began taking on water after suffering serious damage to its main rudder.

Falmouth MRCC asked the captain of a tanker in the region – the Maersk Mediterranean - to divert to the yacht's location, around 300 miles south of the Seychelles.  Bad weather meant the ship’s progress was slower than normal, and the yacht’s crew were preparing to abandon ship and take to a life raft when they were finally rescued at around 0045 this morning. 

The Falmouth MRCC had also alerted nearby authorities, including the Seychelles Coastguard, and other resources in the region, but the yacht’s remote location meant that a rapid rescue was not possible.

Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager, Martin Bidmead, said: "We are very relieved that the Maersk Mediterranean was able to reach this yacht in time and rescue the three people on board.  After their first call we were able to coordinate the rescue remotely, staying in contact with the yacht and updating crew with the progress of the rescue.”

All three people on board are reported as being uninjured.

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