SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard Marine Investigators are investigating the cause that led to the grounding of the 920-foot double-hulled Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tank ship Matthew Tuesday.

The Norwegian flag tank ship grounded at 6 15 a.m. and was later refloated Tuesday morning, approximately a half nautical mile southeast of Cayo Caribe near Guayanilla, Puerto Rico.  There are no reports or sightings of pollution at this time.   

The vessel was later refloated whent the tank ship crew transferred cargo from the vessel’s forward to its aft cargo tanks allowing the vessel to successfully float free. The Matthew is now moored at the Eco Electrica facility, where underwater hull integrity assessments are scheduled to be conducted by contract divers.

Sector San Juan Coast Guard command center controllers were alerted Tuesday morning after receiving a report that the vessel had grounded onto rocks during their inbound transit to Guayanilla. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A Coast Guard Auxiliary aircrew and a Good Samaritan Vessel combined efforts Wednesday night to rescue a British Virgin Islands overdue fisherman, in waters northeast of Anegada Island, British Virgin Islands.

Rescued is Edward Hagley, 52, after he reportedly went out on a fishing trip Saturday morning and did not return to Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, where he was expected to arrive at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday.

Coast Guard Sector San Juan Watchstanders received a telephone call from the British Virgin Islands Search and Rescue personnel Wednesday afternoon, notifying they had received a cellular phone call from Hagley, who requested assistance and notified he was disabled in waters off of Anegada Island.

Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted a Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft to the scene, while the British Virgin Islands Search and Rescue sent out the Good Samaritan Vessel Robin II to find Hagels. 

The Coast Guard Auxiliary aircrew located Hagley aboard his vessel signaling for assistance with a mirror.  The Coast Guard Auxiliary aircrew vectored the Robin II to Hagley's position, while the crew of the Robin II was able to arrive on scene with Hagley and provide assistance in repairing his vessel.   The Robin II escorted Hagley to Virgin Gorda, where they arrived safely at approximately 7:42p.m. Thursday.

Coast Guard rescue crews searched since Monday afternoon for the overdue fisherman with an Air Station Miami HU-25 Falcon Jet and the Coast Guard Cutter Key Largo and a Coast Guard Auxiliary Fixed Wing fixed-wing aircraft out of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Click on the chart above to see a detailed illustration of the safety zone established for the arrival of Royal Caribbean's, Oasis of the Seas, Tuesday in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The safety zone includes all navigable water within the following four points:  Mosquito Point at 18-19’28”N 64-57’48”W; then southeast to Providence Point at 18-19’14”N 64-57’28”W; then northeast to Banana Point at 18-19’47”N 64-56’40”W; then north to Careen Hill/Radio Tower at 18-20’04”N 64-56”39”W; then southwest to the areas origin. Please refer to nautical chart 25649 NAD 83 for detailed information of the area.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Captain of the Port of San Juan, Coast Guard Capt. Eduardo Pino, has established a temporary safety zone for the world's largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, arrival and departure into and from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Tuesday.

Persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within the safety zone unless authorized by the COTP San Juan. The safety zone includes all waters contained from the entrance of West Gregerie Channel at red lighted buoy four to Careen Hill.

The Oasis of the Seas is expected to arrive from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.  The safety zone will be activated when the Oasis of the Seas enters the port and deactivated once it is safely moored.   The safety zone will be reactivated during the cruise ship's expected departure at 5 p.m. Tuesday and deactivated once the Oasis of the Seas has left the port.

"We expect a large number of boaters may want to watch the arrival of the world's largest cruise ship," said Pino. "The safety zone is necessary in order to provide for the safety of spectators and other vessels and users of the waterways."

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- A Coast Guard crew aboard the cutter Matinicus escorted two people aboard a disabled 56-foot U.S. flagged sailing vessel to safe harbor in Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Thursday.

Good Samaritans aboard the motor vessel Saxonia Express received a distress call from the sailing vessel Perfect Ride via VHF radio Wednesday.  The good Samaritans contacted controllers at the Sector San Juan Command Center to report the sailing vessel was disabled with engine problems and a damaged mast about 160-miles southeast of Puerto Rico.

The Matinicus crew responded and escorted the disabled vessel to Christiansted Thursday night.

Boating Safety Tips: 

• Boaters are reminded to equip their vessels with safety equipment, be mindful of state boating laws, and be courteous to fellow boaters while operating on the water.
• There should be a personal flotation device on the vessel for each person, sized accordingly.
• Boaters should have flares and are encouraged to have an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) with 406 MHz capabilities to enable a faster response by the Coast Guard in the event of an emergency.
• Boaters should have an operational marine VHF radio on their boat in order to contact the Coast Guard on channel 16, in the event an emergency.  Due to the high mountainous areas throughout the region, boaters should not rely on their cell phones as a means of communication.  In order to expedite the Coast Guard's response in an emergency, mariners should have a GPS unit onboard or, at a minimum, maintain a knowledge of local waters and know their location at all times.  The Coast Guard reminds radio operators that VHF channel 16 is an emergency channel and that improper transmission on channel 16 not only hampers Coast Guard response, but is punishable under federal law.
• The Coast Guard strongly recommends that all boaters file a float plan with a friend or family member on land, with an approximate time of return and location to which you will be heading.  It is also recommended that you regularly check in with those who are aware of your plan, especially if your plan should change.
• Mariners should check current and forecasted weather conditions prior to getting underway, and remain aware of changing conditions once on the water.  The National Weather Service broadcasts weather conditions throughout the day on VHF channel WX2.  The Coast Guard broadcasts weather conditions on VHF channel 22A. Current weather information and advisories can be found on the National Weather Service website. http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/zone/west/mtrmz.htm.
• It is against the law for anyone to operate a vessel under the influence of alcohol. Consumption of alcohol by anyone else aboard is also strongly discouraged.