Coast Guard Rescues 5 People from Flooding Vessel 50 Miles Offshore of Fernandina Beach
Coast Guard towed "Belle Amie" to Jacksonville marina

Posted Apr. 10, 2014

 

Coast Guard crews assisted five people who were aboard the 70-foot yacht Belle Amie, which caught fire and began flooding roughly 50 miles east of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Wednesday, April 2, 2014. Crews from Coast Guard Station Mayport and the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback are towing the yacht to a Jacksonville marina. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Joe Ryan)

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback towed a 70-foot motor yacht Wednesday, April 2. Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center were notified of the fire onboard the vessel "Belle Amie.," and that five people onboard were in distress.

At 9:40 a.m., the five adults aboard extinguished the fire but the vessel continued to take on water. All five people had reportedly donned life jackets as a precaution. The mariners reported the vessel had lost all power and was dead in the water.

Upon reaching the mouth of the St. Johns River, the tow was transferred to a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium from Station Mayport, Fla., and the Belle Amie was brought to St. Johns Boat Company.

Five people aboard the Belle Amie were in distress approximately 50 miles east of Fernandina Beach, Fla., while the yacht was taking on water following a fire aboard in the morning around 9:00 a.m.

Coast Guardsmen from Station Mayport responded, along with the crew of the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback. Two Coast Guard helicopter crews were also launched and arrived on scene at 10:30 a.m.

A Good Samaritan aboard the 56-foot vessel Tippe Canoe was on scene providing assistance to the five mariners and remained there until the Coast Guard arrived.

Two of the Belle Amie boaters were transferred to the Station Mayport boat and taken to Station Mayport Wednesday afternoon to begin making arrangements for the Belle Amie. Two Coast Guardsmen from Station Mayport stayed on the Belle Amie with the three remaining boaters while the yacht was being towed.