BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – UNFAVOURABLE weather conditions have prevented the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard from providing assistance to a Guyana-registered vessel that ran aground on a reef just off the coast of Dieppe Bay more than 36 hours ago.
The distressed vessel, MV Hatuna Matata, was discovered by individuals who visited the beach early yesterday morning (Nov. 27) and they forwarded the information to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, the Coast Guard and others.
SKNVibes understands that an attempt was made yesterday by the Coast Guard to provide assistance in dislodging the vessel from the reef and checking on the well-being of the individuals aboard, but rough seas and the position of the vessel thwarted the rescue effort.
Information reaching this publication however suggests that the vessel’s occupants were “in good health” up until that point.
Having visited the scene yesterday, it was observed that a number of fishermen and divers of the Dieppe Bay area had ventured out to the vessel with the hope of providing assistance but, according to reports, it was refused.
This publication has been reliably informed that another attempt was made by the Coast Guard today but the roughness of the ocean seems to have intensified, again preventing the rescue effort.
Whereas the vessel was positioned parallel to the coastline, it has since shifted with the bow facing the ocean and the stern facing the land.
A further attempt to provide assistance would be made and SKNVibes was advised that in order to dislodge the vessel from the reef, a collaborative effort involving a tugboat of some sort would be needed.
