Crystal Cruises said its Crystal Esprit yacht conducted a rescue at sea yesterday (February 16) after responding to a distress call in the Seychelles Islands. The ship rescued 12 French nationals and brought them onboard — three children and 9 adults.

The group’s catamaran was dragged from their mooring buoy and ran aground close to shore. The area was experiencing extremely inclement weather yesterday, causing fatal damage to the catamaran which the group ultimately had to abandon, and faced potential loss of life.

The crew aboard Crystal Esprit along with the Seychelles Coast Guard operated under darkness, heavy rain and high swell but carried out the operation efficiently, and safely transferred the group onto a Zodiac and they yacht before they were relocated to land, according to a statement. 

Crystal Esprit departed as planned this morning, heading for Aride Island. The rescued passengers from the catamaran were transferred to Praslin Island.