TowboatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale's Swift Action
Helps to Prevent Serious Damage to a Sailboat and Possible Injuries
Much of Monday, January 26th was just like any other mid winter day in South Florida. A chill was in the air and boat traffic was light. Things heated up late in the afternoon when a charter sportfishing boat passed by a Hunter 37 lying against the rock jetty on the South side of the Port Everglades entrance channel. The charter boat captain hailed the United States Coast Guard to alert them of the situation. Two boats operated by TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale were on scene minutes later to assess the situation. The vessel was parallel to the jagged rocks and hard aground.
After one unsuccessful attempt to free the boat from the rocks, the crew saw an opportunity on the horizon. A large cruise ship was setting sail from Port Everglades and would be transiting the inlet in just a few minutes. The savvy Towboat Captains knew that the surge created by a cruise ship this size, just might be enough to allow the sailboat to be extracted from the her precarious perch. As the ship approached, two tugs were utilized to apply steady pressure on the vessel in an attempt to pull her away from the jetty. Their efforts were unsuccessful until the surge from the passing cruise ship made its way to their location. Success! The long time BoatU.S. members were relieved that their vessel escaped with only minor damage and that nobody was hurt. TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale’s speed, skill and equipment were all key factors in this and the hundreds of other salvage operations that the company successfully executes each year. The company serves South Florida, The Bahamas and beyond providing solutions to the most complex marine problems around the clock.
