The casino boat Escapade, grounded on a sandbar off Tybee Island for more than 36 hours on its maiden voyage, managed to free itself at high tide and return to its home dock in Savannah, Georgia under its own power. The 174-foot vessel, owned by Florida-based Tradewinds Casino Cruise, became stranded shortly before midnight on Tuesday, July 15, and was dislodged around 1 p.m. Thursday, July 17. The cruise, offered free as a marketing promotion, was supposed to run from 7 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.,
After a salvage crew tried but failed to move the Escapade from the sandbar early Wednesday afternoon, Coast Guard crews from various locations removed 118 passengers and non-essential crew and staff from the vessel using rescue boats and a helicopter. All passengers were safely transported back to the Tradewinds dock by 6 p.m. Wednesday. Seven crew members remained aboard the Escapade to get it moving again.
On Tradewinds’ Facebook page, a message all passengers had returned to shore without illness or injury, and added the company is cooperating fully with the Coast Guard, which the company thanked for its assistance. The statement said, “Please know that our first concern has been for the safety of our passengers and crew.”
Tradewinds Casino Cruises Vice President Roger Humphreys did not respond to requests for more information. He was aboard the Escapade serving as pit boss when it grounded, several passengers said.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Soto said the Coast Guard investigation into the accident could take several months. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations officials in Atlanta also are checking into whether boat owners broke the law.
