Ambassador Sinking

On February 19, 1964 the Coast Guard cutter Coos Bay, returning from winter patrol on ocean station “Bravo” off Labrador received an SOS from the British motorship Ambassador, with a crew of 35. The ship was sinking in the Atlantic, 370 miles south of her position. High seas had upset two liferafts on the 18th and 14 crewmen were lost. The Ambassador took a line from the Coos Bay and a raft was sent over. Six swimmers from the cutter in survival gear assisted the remaining crew members to board the cutter. One man was drowned in the rescue operations. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.