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Yesterday, the Hawaiian
Humane Society (HHS) announced that it had launched a secondary
mission to retrieve "Forgea", the white mascot who had
been left alone on the derelict hulk now floating somewhere 250
miles (400km) south of the Big Island of Hawaii. The American
Quest, a 100-foot salvage tug owned by American Marine
Corporation, departed Honolulu yesterday in an attempt to find the
lost ship and retrieve its sole remaining passenger, the dog
belonging to Chung Chin Po, captain of the ill-fated ship.
The American Quest is a 96' x 26' x 8.5' workboat with a
cruising speed of 9.5 knots. It is expected to reach the
rescue point some time this weekend. (Image: American
Marine Corp.)
"We've been aboard burning ships, but we've never rescued a
dog before," said Rusty Nall, vice president of American
Marine.
It was estimated that the American Quest would reach its
destination in one and a half days, according to HHS spokesperson
Eve Holt. "The Coast Guard has been helpful in supplying
us with information," she said.
In order to locate the Insiko, the rescue ship will also
be coordinating efforts with air search.
Said Ms. Holt, "We have no experience with ocean rescues and
Lieutenant Michael Wessel was most helpful in understanding what
would be needed.
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On the morning of April 2, the luxury cruise ship Norwegian Star,
under the command of Captain Niklaus Peterstam, spotted a parachute flare
and a small distress fire burning on the deck of the freighter about
15 miles away. The Norwegian Star, a 91,000-ton, 14-story
liner with 10 gourmet restaurants, a 1,000-seat theater and a capacity of
3,300 passengers and crew, was able to deviate from its planned course and
send a motorized rescue boat to pick up the crew of the Insiko.
However, the dog Forgea, who had been Captain Po's companion since she was 8
weeks old, was allegedly not allowed on board. The Taiwanese
captain of the Insiko remains "very concerned" about Forgea, according to an official at the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Office in Honolulu.
Passengers aboard the Norwegian Star claim to have heard a dog
barking aboard the burned tanker, but a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise
Line said the cruise ship's captain was never informed a dog had been left
behind.
This weekend's rescue mission, which has been estimated at a cost of
$50,000 (USD), is being funded jointly by the HHS and the Humane
Society of the United States, as well as private donations. Joining the crew aboard the American
Quest are HHS director Linda Haller and senior humane investigator
Brett Lum who intend to move Forgea safely off the abandoned tanker and
provide any special care she may need.
Rescuers are well-equipped with the veterinary expertise and medical
supplies necessary to treat the dog, who presumably ran out of food and
water some time ago. Ms. Holt told The Scoop, "All we
need is for her to be alive when we get there."
UPDATES:
(Apr. 7): Rescue at Sea
(Apr. 8): "It is simply
untrue"
(Apr. 13): It Ain't Over Yet!
(Apr. 21): Insiko
Found
(Apr. 22): Dog
Rescued
(Apr. 27): Forgea Rescued! (We really mean it this time)
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