Norwegian Dawn Rescues two different salors on two boats!

[showcat]

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers cruising for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log this week while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is on vacation.

The Norwegian Dawn rescued two different sailors on two different boats within 12 hours on June 30, while sailing off the coasts of Massachusetts and New York en route to Bermuda.

The first rescue took place 200 miles from Cape Cod, Mass., where Andrew Paul Giglia, a crewmember on a sailboat returning from a a race in Bermuda, was suffering from shock-like symptoms and needed immediate evacuation, Norwegian Cruise Line said.

The Coast Guard contacted the Dawn, which at 52 miles away was the closest ship to the sailboat. NCL said that it was able to board Giglia in windy conditions using a small rescue boat, and treated him for dehydration.

Hours later, the Dawn received a second distress call. HIllary Bercovici of Greenwich, Conn., had sustained a head injury while sailing 260 miles south of Montauk, N.Y., and was losing consciousness.

NCL said that despite rough conditions of rain and gusting wind, the Dawn located Bercovici's vessel and used a rescue boat again to bring the injured man onboard. He was given medical treatment, including five stitches to the forehead.

NCL said both injured sailors were in stable condition and were to disembark the ship upon its arrival in Bermuda on July 2.

This is the third rescue NCL has made in the last few months; in April, the Pride of Aloha rescued an eight-month-old dog that was shipwrecked on a remote pacific island, as we reported here.

-- Johanna Jainchill

[richstacy]

Hooray for Norwegian Dawn! the industry could use more publicity like this and a lot less of the kind it has been getting lately!

[showcat]

I agree it's nice to see something positive!

[mehawk]

Great stories!