Bw-Enn-Crystal-Sky Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On January 18, 2018, a remarkable rescue unfolded in the Eastern Pacific when the crew of the LNG tanker "Stena Crystal Sky" came to the aid of two American sailors stranded on their damaged vessel. Don Spitler and Elizabeth Anderson were aboard their yacht, aptly named "Jaunt," embarking on an adventurous journey from Cabo San Lucas to the Marquesas and onto the Cook Islands. However, calamity struck 850 nautical miles southwest of Cabo when they found themselves battling severe weather that left their yacht with a crippled rudder and malfunctioning autopilot. In their moment of need, Spitler and Anderson sent a distress signal via the Garmin inReach emergency call center. Swiftly responding, the center alerted the U.S. Coast Guard, which utilized the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system to locate the nearest merchant vessel, the "Stena Crystal Sky," positioned approximately 240 nautical miles away. With compassion and urgency, the master of the LNG tanker agreed to change course to provide assistance. Upon arrival at the distress location, the crew faced challenging conditions: winds reaching 20 knots and swells exceeding ten feet, making small boat operations precarious. Despite these treacherous circumstances, the boat crew, comprised of Second Officer John Giffin, Third Officer James Hamilton, Third Engineer Shaun Reid, and able seaman Alejandro Flores, launched their small craft in a valiant effort to rescue the stranded sailors. After a calculated and brave operation, the team was able to safely extract Spitler and Anderson from the yacht, which they had to abandon in the ocean. The two survivors remained aboard the LNG carrier as it continued its journey, ultimately arriving in Balboa on January 27, where they could disembark and begin their next chapter, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the "Stena Crystal Sky" crew.