DATE: June 10, 2009 7:04:52 PM EDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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News Release

Date: June 10, 2009

Contact: Ricardo Castrodad

Sector San Juan Public Affairs

(787) 510-7923
Coast Guard rescues man aboard disabled sailing vessel in waters north of Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- A Coast Guard rescue crew from Boat Station San Juan, rescued a man aboard a disabled 33-foot sailing vessel Wednesday, in waters approximately 39 nautical miles north of Boca de Cangrejos, Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Charles Collins, 68, was the master and only person aboard the sailing vessel Egide, who was transiting from Culebra Island, Puerto Rico to Cape Canaveral, Fla. when he experienced rudder problems and was unable to maneuver the vessel.

Collins notified Sector San Juan Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub Center controllers of his distress Wednesday morning via VHF radio on Channel 16.

A Coast Guard crew from Boat Station San Juan aboard a new 45-foot Response Boat-Medium responded to the distress by towing the Egide to San Juan Bay Marina, Puerto Rico.

The new 45-foot Response Boat Medium was recently delivered to Station San Juan May 29, 2009.

The Coast Guard Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) Acquisition Project is the third initiative in the Response Boats 2010 strategic vision and transition plan, aimed at standardizing and revitalizing the Coast Guard’s shore-based response fleet. The RB-M will re-capitalize capabilities of the existing multi-mission 41’ Utility Boats and multiple nonstandard boats to meet the needs of the Coast Guard in the Caribbean.

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