PRESS RELEASE: Around 1:00 a.m. Thursday, January 28th, 2021 information to the Police Control Room was that a cargo vessel named M/V Tropic Scout II, en route to Providenciales from the Dominican Republic carrying building materials had capsized near Swimmers Rock.
According to reports, four Dominican
nationals were found in a life raft and rescued by a private citizen who
transported them to the Blue Haven Dock around 5:00 a.m.
Additional support was later provided by
Caicos Express Airways who located the capsized vessel 40 miles South East of
Providenciales.
Marine Branch Officers on board M/V Sea
Pursuit were dispatched and successfully rescued three Dominican nationals at
10:30 a.m.
One person is still unaccounted for and is
believed to be trapped inside of the cargo vessel, however, the incident
resulted in an oil spoil which made the search difficult and had to be called
off but resumed Friday, January 29th, 2021.
The incident took place in international
waters and additional arrangements to complete the search is being conducted
the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Marine Branch with the
assistance of the United States Coast Guard.
The search and rescue operation also
includes the assistance of the Department and Coastal Resources Officials and a
private vessel ‘Molasses’.
Both the Ministry of Immigration and The
Ministry of Health were informed.
