The crew of the San Diego-based Coast Guard Cutter ‘Boutwell’ rescued four fishermen on 6 January after their disabled fishing vessel had been adrift off the coast of Panama for 14 days.
The vessel was discovered approximately 100 nautical miles southwest of Panama.
Arriving on scene, Boutwell relieved the crew of the New General, a bulk cargo ship that had initiated the distressed vessel report to the Coast Guard after being flagged down by the drifting fishermen. Boutwell's crew confirmed the fishing vessel as El Apache, reported overdue on its voyage approximately one week earlier. The El Apache's crew was due to return to Panama City, Panama, on 28 December, but had suffered an engine casualty, which turned out to be a faulty fuel pump.
When asked how they had survived, the fishermen replied that they had rationed their catch and even their bait. They had small portions of rice which they were able to cook on a gas stove and they collected rainwater from the recent squalls for drinking. While adrift, the fishermen constructed a sail using a tarp they had onboard, and a log found floating in the water.
"Thank God! We shared a lot of joy that we were saved," said one of El Apache's crew members. "We are very thankful that we were picked up, after so many ships had passed by without seeing us."
