Coast Guard completes escort of Triumph

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The Coast Guard escorted the disabled Carnival Triumph to the Alabama Cruise Ship Terminal in Mobile Thursday, February 14.

Coast Guard officials said tug vessel Roland Falgout and four assist tugs towed the Triumph to the Alabama Cruise Terminal following more than a 100-hour voyage from Cozumel, Mexico to Mobile.

According to the Coast Guard, resources used to assist the Triumph:

• The 210-foot Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous and crew, homeported in Cape May, N.J.;
• Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile MH-60T crew;
• The 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Stingray crew;
• Three Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crews;
• One Coast Guard Station Pascagoula boatcrew;

Officials also said the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous arrived on scene Sunday night and safely medevaced one passenger to the Carnival Legend. Cutter Vigorous began escorting the Triumph once the contracted tugs arrived and began towing it toward Mobile.

Photos: A look at Triumph's conditions

The Coast Guard officials said they worked closely with federal, state and local partners to affect the safe return of the Carnival Triumph and its crew and passengers. Through a collaborative effort, the Coast Guard and its port partners transferred critical engineering equipment, assisted CBP with the disembarkation process, enforced a security zone and assisted with the medevac of one additional passenger.

They said Flag Administration of the Bahamas will be leading the investigation into the incident with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board.