The Coast Guard Cutter Assateague approaches the disabled 500-foot container ship, Rich Forest, Jan. 22, 2014. Twenty-four crew members on board the Rich Forest abandoned ship, Jan. 20, 2014, after the cargo vessel engine room flooded. (U.S. Coast Guard photo provided by Coast Guard Cutter Assateague)
The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday released some new photos along with an update on the 500-foot MV Rich Forest abandoned and taking on water in the Pacific Ocean near Guam.
As gCaptain reported previously, the AMVER participating vessel C.S. Sunshine rescued all 24 crewmembers of the Rich Forest on Monday after they abandoned the ship in liferafts, one day after reporting an engine room flood approximately 400 miles from Guam.
The ship, carrying logs enroute to China, was reported by the crew to be taking on water at the rate of 160 tons per hour, causing generators to fail and subsequent loss of propulsion.
The update said that the The 24 survivors were safely transferred from the C.S. Sunshine to the Coast Guard Cutter Sequoia on Wednesday.
The Sequoia and the Coast Guard Cutter Assateague, which was also sent to the scene, conducted a final visual assessment of the vessel before departing for the islands of Saipan, Common Wealth of Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.
The update from the Coast Guard said that the Rich Forest is reported to be riding low at the stern, but still afloat and the owner has continued to pursue options for salvaging the vessel.
The Sequoia is expected to arrive in Saipan Friday where Rich Forest crew will be met by Department of Homeland Security Investigations for processing and the Assateague will make its way back to its homeport of Guam.
C.S. Sunshine has been released from the case and will continue its voyage to Japan.
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