Cruise ship rescues 4 from disabled catamaran hundreds of miles off Bermuda, officials say

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — A cruise ship rescued four people Sunday from a disabled catamaran that took on water hundreds of miles off the coast of Bermuda, officials said.

The disabled 50-foot catamaran, the Serenity, was about 266 miles off the coast of Bermuda when the escape hatch blew a gasket, causing the ship to take on water, U.S. Coast Guard 5th District spokesperson Petty Officer 3rd Class Christine Bills said in an email. The Coast Guard sent out a broadcast asking for help to the nearest ship and the Disney Treasure – which was about 80 miles (129 kilometers) away from the Serenity – responded by launching a rescue boat to rescue all four passengers.

A crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City in North Carolina launched an HC-130 to fly over the scene until the rescue was complete, Bills said. Coast Guard video shows the cruise ship’s yellow lifeboat heading toward the disabled catamaran.

The Disney Treasure was en route from Eemshaven, Netherlands, to its new home in Port Canaveral, Florida, when it responded to the ship in distress, the Disney Cruise Line said in a statement. Captain Marco Nogara of Disney Treasure said they were happy to help the passengers in danger.

“Our crew members worked together in the rescue effort and skillfully demonstrated their training and commitment to safety,” said Nogara.