Coast Guard
Coast Guard leads rescue of 27 mariners after vessel catches fire and sinks near Galapagos Islands
Stars and Stripes
February 2, 2026
The crews of the Seaways Kenosha and La Pena pose for a photo on the Seaways Kenosha, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 1, 2026. The crew of the Seaways Kenosha rescued the crew of the La Pena after the La Pena caught fire and the crew was forced to abandon ship. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The U.S. Coast Guard led the rescue of 27 mariners on Sunday after their fishing vessel caught fire and sank near the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
No serious injuries were reported. A previously reported injury was later assessed as non-life-threatening, according to a service news release.
Rescue Coordination Center Alameda received an SOS Saturday afternoon from the fishing vessel La Pena via a satellite messaging device.
The crew reported they had no life jackets, food or water aboard the lifeboat. Their only means of communication was the satellite device.
With no Coast Guard assets nearby, watchstanders coordinated assistance through the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system. The motor vessel Seaways Kenosha responded offering to assist and arrived early Sunday, safely recovering all 27 survivors.
“This outcome is a direct result of the vigilance and professionalism of our watchstanders, who coordinated with multiple partners and directed nearby vessels to the scene,” said Capt. Patrick Dill, chief of incident management, Coast Guard Southwest District.
The AMVER system is a worldwide, voluntary ship reporting system sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard that assists in search and rescue by identifying participating ships in the vicinity of a distress.