A vessel with Filipino crew members on board saved two Americans in the Atlantic Ocean last December 5.

The crew members were aboard bulk carrier KSL Santiago.

They responded to the distress call sent by the US Coast Guard in Norfolk asking for assistance to rescue two boaters whose sailboat had become disabled in rough weather, leaving them adrift 345 miles from the nearest shore, according to the coast guard of Mid-Atlantic.

According to Rod Arnel Tolentino, 2nd Officer of KSL Santiago, their crew members volunteered to rescue the two Americans, a yacht owner and his captain.

The rescue operations lasted for five hours.

The two Americans had no injuries. They were carried by a C-130 onto the KSL vessel.

“This could have gone much differently given the weather conditions, the fact that the boat was disabled, and that it was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,” said Kelvin Morgan, operational unit controller for the Fifth District command center of the Mid-Atlantic Coast Guard.

He added, “The fact we have partners like the crew and captain of the KSL Santiago allows cases like this to have a happy ending.”

Meanwhile, as per the latest update of Tolentino on his Facebook account, the rescued Americans have already disembarked from their vessel.

“Masaya na pong nakababa yung na rescue namin,” he said.

He said the two thanked them, saying “Thank you guys! See you next time, but on a different occasion.”

The KSL Santiago vessel will head to Baltimore before going to the Philippines.