The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(WASHINGTON) — The AMVER participating tanker Abtao rescued two German sailors after their sailboat was demasted and a personal locator beacon was activated approximately 800 miles west of the Azores on June 25.
U.S. Coast Guard officials received the beacon alert, launched an Air Station Elizabeth City C-130 search aircraft and notified the AMVER (Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System) tanker. Abtao was reported to be five miles away from the location of the beacon alert. The captain of the Chilean-flagged tanker agreed to divert and assist in the search.
Abtao was able to locate the sailboat and safely embark the two sailors. "We provided first aid to verify their health status and found the sailors to be in optimal health," emailed Abtao Capt. Francisco Montero. The survivors were scheduled to remain on the 600-foot tanker until it arrived at its next port call in Florida.
Abtao, managed by Sonamar of Chile, enrolled in AMVER on July 8, 2004 and has earned four AMVER participation awards.
