Cruise ship rescues 41 Cuban migrants
MIAMI, United States (CMC) — The United States Coast Guard says 41 Cuban migrants have been rescued by the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship in the Florida Straits.
On Wednesday, the US Coast Guard reported that crew members aboard the 855-foot Carnival Ecstasy located the “grossly overloaded vessel” at 7:00 pm on Tuesday.
“The vessel was unseaworthy, was taking on water, and did not have any life-saving or navigation equipment on board,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
“The migrants were pulled to safety by crew members aboard the Ecstasy and were transferred to a Coast Guard cutter patrolling in the area,” it added.
According to Captain Todd Lutes of the US Coast Guard, “these 41 individuals are very lucky to be alive”.
There were no reports of injuries following an evaluation by the medical personnel aboard the Ecstasy.
Late last week, the Coast Guard repatriated 21 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas in Cuba.
