Bad Fish Takes Down Bulk Carrier Crew

Agapi S, image (c) Wojtek Wietrzy?ski/MarineTraffic.com

The U.S. Coast Guard reported on Saturday a pair of Puerto Rico-based doctors were transported aboard the 680-foot Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Agapi S via tugboat after 19 of 21 crew members came down with food poisoning.

Doctors confirmed ill crewmembers were stable and did not require medical attention ashore after suffering from food poisoning after eating fish caught by the crew.  Symptoms for fifteen of the crewmembers are subsiding while four others who still displayed symptoms showed signs of improvement after receiving treatment onboard.

The Agapi S was transiting from Saint Eustatius, Netherland Antilles to New Orleans off the coast of Puerto Rico when the crew members became sick.

“Balancing the health of the ship’s crew with overall public safety were our primary concerns,” said Cmdr. Kailie Benson, Sector San Juan chief of prevention. “The prompt and thorough coordination between all federal and local authorities and Luis Ayala Colon Shipping allowed for 19 mariners to receive needed assistance and ensure the operational safety of the Agapi S.”

In July, a similar situation occurred aboard the JS Comet, a bulk carrier near Port Canaveral when barracuda was served to the crew.

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