MIAMI – U.S. Coast Guard officials said seven crew members were rescued Friday after their 100-foot coastal freighter began taking on water and sank 45 miles north off of Cap Haitien, Haiti.
The coastal freighter, Calypso, was found 50 miles off the coast of Great Inagua. Officials said a helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer down with a dewatering pump. The freighter began to slowly move to the coast of Haiti to investigate the source of the flooding.
Coast Guard crew members were taken to the freighter at 12:30 p.m. Friday and helped with the dewatering of the boat. Officials said the freighter began to list on the right side due to the amount of water in the lower compartments.
To ensure the safety of everyone aboard, all seven crew members were removed and taken to the Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton with no medical concerns, authorities said.
The Coast Guard Cutter Thetis arrived at 7 p.m. Friday and took the seven crew members from the cutter Sexton to the cutter Thetis, officials said.
Crew members from Thetis reported at 7:30 p.m. seeing Calypso continue to list on the right side before sinking 45 miles north of Cap Haitien, Haiti. Coast Guard officials said the freighter sank in nearly 4,000 feet of water and has 500 gallons of diesel fuel on board.
The Coast Guard said it will continue to monitor the situation for any evidence of pollution or debris from the vessel. No pollution was visible.