Sinking Pacific Cargo Ship Crew Transferred to CG Cutter

Survivors of the sinking cargo ship 'Rich Forest' have been transferred safely from the AMVER rescuing ship 'C.S. Sunshine' to Coast Guard Cutter 'Sequoia'.

The 500-foot cargo ship Rich Forest was abandoned by its 24 crew-members after the engine room flooded and were picked up from their liferaft by the AMVER participating vessel, C.S Sunshine.

The US Coast Guard report that the C.S. Sunshine has now been released from the case and will continue its voyage to Japan. The Sequoia and the Coast Guard Cutter Assateague conducted a final visual assessment of the Rich Forest, before departing for the islands of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. They reported the casualty to be riding low at the stern, but still afloat, and apparently the owner has continued to pursue options for salvaging the vessel.

The Sequoia is expected to arrive in Saipan Friday where the survivors will be met by Department of Homeland Security Investigations for processing and the Assateague will make its way back to its homeport of Guam.

Earlier in the week, the log-carrier Rich Forest bound for China had  experienced flooding in the engine room and subsequent loss of propulsion. The Chinese crew took to the liferafts having reported the vessel was taking on 160 tons of water per hour and the generators had failed. Pending the later arrival of the Coast Guard cutters they were picked up by the AMVER vessel.