Caribbean

Coast Guard And Local PR Agencies Respond To Vessel Fire Off San Juan Harbor

The Coast Guard responded on Wednesday to a fire aboard the 561-foot passenger ferry vessel Caribbean Fantasy approximately half a mile off of Punta Salinas, the Coast Guard has made known via press release. At approximately 7:42 a.m. Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a report of a fire aboard a Panamanian-flagged passenger/cargo ship carrying 511 passengers, including crew en route from the Dominican Republic.  Initial reports indicated a manifest of 512, however the vessel returned to port in the Dominican Republic to disembark one passenger earlier in its voyage. The fire, which began in the engine room, spread to other compartments on board, which led to the entire ship's evacuation. Passengers and crewmembers were evacuated from the ship and taken to Pier 6 in San Juan port where emergency service personnel received them for medical evaluations. At 10:21 a.m. Wednesday the Caribbean Fantasy ran aground approximately half a nautical mile offshore of Punta Salinas...