USCG Suspends Response, Catamaran No Longer in Distress

The US Coast Guard is standing down their response to a vessel with nine people aboard approximately 500 miles southeast of Bermuda, Wednesday.

Coast Guard 5th District watchstanders initially received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon distress signal at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 registered to the 109-foot catamaran, Mouse Trap.

The Mouse Trap’s crew had made contact with Rescue Coordination Center Gris Nez, France and reported that their vessel was in distress after losing their mast, and that one crew member was deceased.

At approximately 4 p.m., watchstanders received notification from the International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center reporting that the Mouse Trap’s crew were no longer in distress, had been able to get their engine started, and were currently en route to the Cayman islands.

An air crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City aboard an HC-130 Hercules aircraft has returned to base while the two AMVER vessels have resumed their original courses.

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Naval Today Staff, March 28, 2013