On 20 August 2026 a blaze broke out aboard the Ecuador‑flagged purse seiner Drennec some 527 miles (≈848 km) southwest of the Galápagos Islands. The incident prompted an emergency beacon and an Iridium distress signal via a Garmin inReach device, which were received by United States Coast Guard Southwest District watchstanders at roughly 20:00 local time.
Incident overview
The fire forced the entire crew of twenty‑seven to abandon ship into a single liferaft. Watchstanders confirmed the situation after establishing contact with Garmin Response, which relayed that the vessel was ablaze and the crew were adrift. Both Baird Maritime and MarineLink report these details, indicating consensus among the sources.
Rescue coordination via AMVER
The Coast Guard employed the Automated Mutual‑Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system to locate nearby commercial ships capable of rendering aid. By leveraging this voluntary ship‑reporting network, watchstanders were able to broadcast a request for assistance across a wide swath of maritime traffic. The use of AMVER in such a remote sector underscores its value for search‑and‑rescue (SAR) authorities, as noted by the U.S. Coast Guard in both reports.
Good Samaritan vessels response
Two vessels responded to the call: the container ship Oluf Maersk and the fishing vessel Ricky A. The latter successfully retrieved all twenty‑seven mariners from the liferaft, while the former remained on scene as a standby asset. MarineLink specifies that Ricky A completed the transfer of the rescued crew at 10:15 a.m. on 21 August and subsequently set course for Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Outcome and next steps
The rescued crew were reported safe aboard Ricky A, which proceeded to Guayaquil for repatriation. No injuries or fatalities were mentioned in either source, and the fire’s origin remains unconfirmed. Both outlets highlight that AMVER participation enabled merchant vessels to play a “vital role” in saving lives at sea, reaffirming the system’s strategic importance for distant SAR operations.
What this means for operators
Operators should ensure continuous enrollment in AMVER and maintain functional distress‑alert equipment such as satellite messengers. Prompt reporting of vessel positions can accelerate SAR response times, especially in isolated waters where national assets are limited. Additionally, having a clear plan for crew evacuation to liferafts and regular drills can reduce exposure during onboard fires, improving survivability until assistance arrives.