News Release

HONOLULU – A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew arrived here with two injured crewmembers from the fishing vessel Hou Chun 11 at approximately 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The two injured crewmembers are currently en route to Straub Clinic and Hospital here.

The Air Station Barbers Point crew medically evacuated the injured crewmembers from Christmas Island, Kiribati, at approximately 5 p.m. Wednesday after the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley transported the injured to Christmas Island via small boat. According to the crew of the cutter Alex Haley, the remaining crewmembers were assisted off the cutter into a small outrigger and taken to shore.

Two sister ships of the Hou Chun 11 are en route to the scene of the burned vessel and to Christmas Island to pickup the remaining crewmembers.

Hawaii and Alaska-based Coast Guard crews located the 28-member crew of the disabled fishing vessel early Tuesday morning and provided medical care to injured crewmembers during the transit to Christmas Island. The cutter Alex Haley, homeported in Kodiak, Alaska, arrived on scene at approximately 3 a.m. Tuesday and rescued the fishing vessel crew, who had abandoned their ship onto life rafts. The Air Station Barbers Point crew remained on scene to coordinate the position of the life rafts. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy aircrews had remained on scene throughout the night Monday to monitor the position of the life rafts.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but the Coast Guard will continue monitor the situation.

For imagery from the crew of the cutter Alex Haley, please visit these links:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=779150

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=779156

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=779159

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=779153

For more information, please contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Soto at 808-535-3230.