Sailing vessel “Zarozinia” on the Saba Bank.
SABA--Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) received a distress call from Zarozinia, a small sailing vessel from Riviera Beach, Florida, drifting about 13.5 nautical miles south-southwest of Fort Bay Harbour on the Saba Bank at 9:35am Thursday, March 26.
Apparently an older American couple was unable to free the ship from a line that got caught in the propeller, rendering it unmanoeuvreable .
After informing the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and the regional Air and Sea Rescue Centre in Fort de France, Martinique, it was determined to best respond to the incident from Saba.
In close coordination and under clear instructions from the local disaster response team, including public health officials, the harbourmaster and the police, the Saba Bank Management Unit vessel Queen Beatrix II was dispatched to assist. The crew was instructed to only remove the line and not to get in contact with anyone or other parts of the vessel itself.
Two SCF divers successfully resolved the issue at 11:00am Thursday. The captain had already been able to free the boat by reversing the propeller and only a visual underwater inspection was necessary. Numerous sharks were spotted in the vicinity, SCF said.
After being instructed to restart the engine, the thankful couple was able to continue their voyage to Puerto Rico. Harm to life would have been possible if no assistance was provided. No contact with the persons or parts of the vessel was made, SCF stated.
