Feb. 2, 2002 – The four crew members of a Caribbean cargo vessel who abandoned ship after a fire broke out were rescued by the cruise ship Crystal Harmony Friday night southeast of St. Thomas, the U.S. Coast Guard reported Saturday.
The fire broke out in the engine room of the M.V. Lorrine when the Antigua and Barbuda-registered coastal freighter was about 14 miles south-southeast of St. Thomas, according to a release from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment on St. Thomas. As the blaze spread out of control, the crew members made their escape in a life raft.
The four were picked up Friday night by the cruise ship, which was reported to be en route to St. Lucia, and were attended to by the ship's medical personnel, who reported no injuries. The Crystal Harmony docked in St. Lucia at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
As of 3 p.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard release said, the Lorrine was being towed by a Puerto Rico salage company, and "no pollution has been reported."
The captain of the 105-foot freighter, which makes regular calls in the Virgin Islands, told Coast Guard authorities that the vessel was traveling from St. Croix to Tortola when the fire erupted.
"The Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation for navigation concerns and environmental impact," the release stated.
