DATE: July 27, 2009 5:05:49 PM EDT
| News Release |
Date:
July 27, 2009
Contact:
Petty Officer Sabrina Elgammal 786-367-7649
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| Coast Guard interdicts, repatriates 124 Haitian migrants |
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The Coast Guard interdicted a 60-foot Haitian sail freighter Monday north of Puerto de Baracoa, Cuba. The vessel was carrying 124 Haitian migrants. (Coast Guard photo)
MIAMI - The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant repatriated 124 Haitian migrants to Cap Haitien, Haiti Monday, after they were interdicted at sea Thursday.
While on a routine law enforcement patrol, an HU-25 Falcon jet crew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami located a grossly overloaded 60-foot Haitian sail freighter north of Puerto De Baracoa, Cuba.
The cutter Valiant arrived on scene and distributed personal floatation devices to the 124 Haitians before safely transferring them to the cutter. Overloaded vessels can quickly lose stability and capsize sending migrants into the water. Additionally, migrants on grossly overloaded vessels usually do not have necessary safety equipment and lack sufficient supplies of food and water, which can lead to dehydration and, in some cases, death.
Once aboard the cutter, all migrants received food, water, shelter and necessary medical attention before being repatriated.
The cutter Valiant is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Miami.
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