The Global Explorer was under way from Coronel, Chile, to Iyomishima in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, at dawn on December 3 when it received a request for assistance from the US Coast Guard in Honolulu.
The ship rushed to the site, arriving in the area that evening, and began searching. Despite the darkness and heavy seas, the ship searched for nine hours before rescuing the stranded yachtsman. The size of the large-scale woodchip carrier made the effort all the more difficult, as it is very challenging to maneuver in extreme weather conditions, but the rescue was accomplished safely thanks to the training and judgment of the Global Explorer’s officers and crew.