Boat capsizes off Rose Island, all 28 on board rescued

All 28 people on board a boat that capsized off Rose Island on Friday have been rescued.

According to police reports, a tour company left Paradise Island at around 10am and headed to the Rose Island area.

They were out for around four hours, but on return to New Providence, the vessel started taking on water.

The crew immediately equipped all of the passengers – believed to be tourists – with life vests. They were then able to remove them safely from the vessel.

Once the passengers were all removed, the vessel overturned and became submerged in waters just off Rose Island.

The Police Harbour Patrol Unit and the Defence Force Marine Unit quickly got to the area and rescued the passengers.

Three people have been taken to hospital.

Comments

ExposedU2C says...

And to think we have a whole department of 30+ very overwight and costly bureaucrats who are should be monitoring and enforcing the safety laws and regulations that exist for licensed passenger carrying sea vessels. Anyone want to bet the owner(s) of this capsized boat had no license or insurance?

Posted 8 September 2023, 7:45 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

What you mean they had no license or insurance? That is literally impossible in the Bahamas. The owner likely *chose* to "self insure" and most likely has a verbal contract with Inland Revenue that will be *transitioned* sometime in the coming months. What the fuss about? The tourists paid for a water tour... they toured and theres water

Posted 8 September 2023, 7:58 p.m. Suggest removal

Jetflt says...

Literally impossible in the Bahamas??? What Bahamas are you living in??? Can't be the same one I grew up in! I can see how long the boat is from the photo of the hull, so tell me how 28 people fit on that boat, and then tell me why the boat began taking on water. I sure hope you don't run a charter boat business and if you do, make sure and let us know so we can steer clear!

Posted 9 September 2023, 10:38 p.m. Suggest removal

ThisIsOurs says...

Lol. You must not listen to the PM. He recently announced a new Procurements policy when he expressed annoyance that so many people got the roof/not a roof collapse story wrong. The contractor at RM was "*self insured*" and had a verbal contract that was "*transitioning*". Since this policy came straight from the PM, it must mean that its impossible to run a business not having insurance or a business license, the old fashioned way because .... everybody can decide to self insure and have a transitioning license

Posted 10 September 2023, 4:02 p.m. Suggest removal

themessenger says...

Looking at the photos I would say that the boat was in the 32-35 foot range.
28 passengers would be grossly overloaded for a vessel of that size which would probably have a USCG maximum capacity rating for maybe half that many passengers.
They are also extremely fortunate that the weather was as settled as it was otherwise things could have turned out much more tragically.
The operators of that vessel should have their charter license, assuming they have one, revoked.

Posted 8 September 2023, 8:53 p.m. Suggest removal

AnObserver says...

Don't be silly, of course they'll be held accountable. Just like the guys who drove their boat on to the beach and crushed that little kid, with no license, insurance, or anything. And just like the jet ski operator who killed the snorkeler a few months ago. Or that crappy homebrew boat that exploded in Exuma and killed and dismembered people. All were punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Oh wait, that's right, nothing happened in any of those cases. Murder is completely legal in this country, as long as it is done via negligence using a boat.

Posted 9 September 2023, 4:05 p.m. Suggest removal

Bonefishpete says...

That could of gotten ugly fast.

Posted 8 September 2023, 9:04 p.m. Suggest removal

JohnBrown1834 says...

Thank God they had enough life vests.

Posted 9 September 2023, 11:45 a.m. Suggest removal

TalRussell says...

**'Thankfully,'** as a result, swift responses. --- **Reportedly,** all 28 passengers and crew onboard are said to have been rescued. --- **'This time'.**. --- Three people have been taken to hospital. --- If this is more than just the one boat operation --- **'Safety precautions,'** calls for a **'temporary overview suspension'** of tours. --- Yes?

Posted 9 September 2023, 10:37 p.m. Suggest removal

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