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New York City, 12 Jun, 2008 - The Coast Guard today honored the master and crew of an APL containership for rescuing a family of four - including children ages 5 and 18 months - from a stricken yacht floundering in 15-foot Atlantic swells 1,700 miles off the U.S. East Coast the morning of June 9. Capt. Parvez Guard received a shipboard commendation shortly after berthing the 906-foot APL Japan - renamed the Hyundai Japan while on long-term charter - at New York Container Terminal and releasing his grateful passengers for a return to their native Germany. "They were quite shaken up, but they were fine," said Capt. Guard, a 28-year veteran of APL, one of the world's leading container carriers. The APL vessel arrived right on time after a harrowing rescue that took more than an hour to complete in 25-knot winds. According to the ship's master, the rescued family was in good condition and scheduled to meet with U.S. immigration officials before arranging its departure from New York. The four were en route from Antigua in the West Indies to the Azores – a distance of about 2,500 miles - in their newly purchased 40-foot yacht, the Dally On. Caught in a nighttime gale June 8, the boat lost its rudder and mast and was trapped in heavy seas without the ability to maneuver. At about 3:30 a.m. June 9, the APL vessel received a distress call from the Dally On, then about 10 nautical miles away. Capt. Guard mustered his entire crew to prepare for emergency operations and notified the stricken sailboat that help was on the way. "They were in dire straits, so I said 'I'm coming,'" said the captain. Little more than an hour after first radio contact, Capt. Guard navigated his massive containership alongside the Dally On. It took three tries, but the APL crew was finally able to lash the yacht to the stern of their vessel. Thirty-seven-year-old crewmember Anthony Gomez-Stalin then scrambled down a pilot's ladder from the APL ship to the yacht. He snatched the 18-month-old infant in his arm and carried it up the ladder to safety. The other family members followed one-after-the-other until all four were aboard the APL vessel safe and unhurt. According to Capt. Guard, Gomez-Stalin suffered a leg injury during his ascent with the infant but was back on duty the next day. Souce: APL.com
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