RCI-Royal Caribbean's ship Harmony of the Seas recently played a pivotal role in the rescue of a small fishing boat named Aris, along with its seven passengers and a canine companion named Canelo, off the coast of Mexico.
The fishing expedition, which set out from Cozumel, encountered difficulties when its engine failed, leading to a loss of communication. Adrift for ~2 days, the distressed crew was eventually spotted by the vigilant crew of the cruise ship.
Aris had departed Cozumel on Sunday, January 14, for a fishing trip but became stranded at sea due to engine malfunctions. Despite extensive searches conducted by local individuals with boats and government agencies, there was no trace of the missing vessel.
While en route from Galveston Texas to Honduras, Harmony OTS identified the distressed fishing boat ~20 NM (~37 km) off the Yucatan Peninsula. Responding promptly, the ship's crew deployed a rescue boat to assess the situation and provide assistance. Simultaneously, the Navy was alerted, leading to the successful rescue of the 6 crew members, including Captain Manuel Chimal, and their loyal dog Canelo.
Post-rescue, all passengers, including the dog, were discovered to be dehydrated but in overall good health. By Tuesday night, they had safely returned to Cozumel, reuniting with their families and friends.
Harmony OTS resumed the scheduled Western Caribbean voyage without any disruptions.
For more Harmony of the Seas incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.