Coast Guard Completes Rescue Mission After Ship Explosion

BOSTON — The Coast Guard has airlifted two crew members who survived the explosion aboard the bulk-carrier Tamar explosion. They were taken off the carrier at approximately 4:30 a.m., by a Portuguese aircrew along with three New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing pararescuers to continue medical care. The aircrew arrived in Terceira Island, Azores at about 7 a.m.

A Portuguese Air Force jet with a medical team will bring the injured to Lisbon, Portugal for medical treatment. The captain of the Marshall Islands-flagged 623-foot bulk carrier Tamar contacted watchstanders at the Coast Guard command center reporting an explosion in the ship’s forward storeroom. New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing pararescuers arrived on board the Tamar at about 9:30 p.m., Monday, after deploying from their HC-130 with two small boats and advanced life-saving equipment.

Two crew members died Monday.

Photo Caption: Members of the 106th Rescue Wing assigned to New York Air National Guard, run to add additional supplies for a rescue mission to Lajes, Azores, April 24, 2017, Westhampton Beach, N.Y. The mission is to locate the aircraft and drop para-rescuemen who will board the ship and provide emergency medical care to the crew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cheran A. Cambridge)

Photo Credit: Master Sgt. Cheran Cambridge 106th Rescue Wing