Working Conditions Aboard the Oocl-Guangzhou

In a remarkable maritime rescue, four stranded boaters and their beloved cat have returned to safety thanks to the coordination of the Coast Guard and the cargo vessel OOCL Guangzhou. The ordeal began last Friday when a collision damaged the rudder of their 30-foot boat during its voyage from Cabo San Lucas to Oregon. Initially, the family was rescued by the Hong Kong-registered cargo ship, which actively participates in the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) program—a life-saving initiative they credit for their safe recovery. 'This ship went way, way out of their way to help us,' expressed Douglas Ray Merrell, the boat’s owner, reflecting on the experience from a harbor in Hawaii. 'We absolutely could not have asked for better treatment. If a program like that wasn’t in place, we might not be sitting here today.' The rescue took place approximately 650 miles southwest of San Diego, with the OOCL Guangzhou safely transporting the group to Hawaii for their transfer back home.