Working Conditions Aboard the South-Islander

On April 17, 2011, a dramatic rescue operation unfolded 540 miles east of Guam as U.S. and Japan Coast Guard teams collaborated to save 27 fishermen from the Daichi Shoei Maru, a vessel engulfed in flames. The situation escalated when a severe fire broke out onboard, prompting the crew to abandon ship. Rescue coordinators swiftly identified a nearby merchant ship, the South Islander (IMO 9370379), which was approximately 115 miles away and promptly alerted its captain for assistance. Utilizing the coordinates from the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), the Japan Coast Guard aircrew quickly located the distressed vessel. At approximately 7:45 p.m., the crew of the Daichi Shoei Maru evacuated into life rafts just moments before multiple explosions rocked the ship, causing significant damage. Thankfully, the fishermen were safely distanced from the perilous flames when the South Islander arrived at 8:10 p.m. All 27 individuals were gently and efficiently transferred to safety aboard the South Islander, with no reported injuries, marking a successful maritime rescue operation in the Pacific.