A Coast Guard boat crew rescued 12 people Wednesday morning after they abandoned the M/V Bonnie G.
The vessel was taking on water and ran aground just south of the airport in St. Thomas.
According to a Coast Guard press release, the twelve individuals who abandoned the Bonnie G were safe.
The release disclosed that Coast Guard personnel in Sector San Juan received VHF marine communication from the 195-foot Vanuatu-flagged cargo vessel at 3:41 a.m., Wednesday.
The vessel reported that it was taking on water in the engine room and that the people onboard were abandoning the ship onto two life rafts and a lifeboat.
Crew members at Boat Forces Detachment St. Thomas launched a Coast Guard 33-foot Special Purpose Craft to the rescue.
Once on scene, the Coast Guard boat crew embarked all 12 survivors and transported them to Crown Bay Marina.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
In addition, the Coast Guard said one of its priorities is assessing the pollution threat from the Bonnie G and removing potentially hazardous chemicals.
The Bonnie G reportedly had approximately 13,000 gallons of fuel and about 250 gallons of lube oil onboard.
The vessel also carried six cars, a truck, a trailer, and two cargo pallets.
