Coast Guard Airlifts Four Oil Tanker Crew Members After Suspected Food Poisoning

The U.S. Coast Guard evacuated four crew members from a Cyprus-flagged oil tanker off Puerto Rico on Sunday after they reportedly fell ill with suspected food poisoning.

An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen conducted the rescue approximately one nautical mile south of Vieques, Puerto Rico, hoisting all four mariners from the 328-foot tanker Daibelli.

The operation began after the vessel’s master contacted Coast Guard Rescue Sub-Center San Juan Saturday night to report that four crew members were experiencing symptoms consistent with food poisoning.

The helicopter crew successfully hoisted the mariners aboard despite challenging conditions on the vessel.

“The vessel presented a challenging hoisting environment, but through excellent crew resource management, teamwork, and adaptability, we were able to identify the safest and most effective location to conduct the hoists,” said Lt. Stan Raymond, the helicopter’s co-pilot.

“I’m grateful our crew was able to safely evacuate all four mariners and get them to a higher level of medical care.”

The crew members were flown to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, where emergency medical personnel were waiting. They were subsequently transported to Carolina Regional Hospital for treatment.

The Coast Guard did not provide further details on the mariners’ conditions or the suspected source of the illness.

The operation was coordinated by Coast Guard Sector San Juan with support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Public Health Service, Puerto Rico Emergency Medical Services and Carolina Regional Hospital.

The Coast Guard credited the coordination among agencies for the successful evacuation.

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