Crew aboard a rigid hull inflatable boat races to rescue two people marooned on Elbow Key in the Bahamas. A helicopter crew from the cutter Diligence spotted the people while patrolling the area. Diligence is homeported in Wilmington, N.C., but also supports Coast Guard District Seven in search and rescue and alien migrant and drug interdiction efforts in the Caribbean. In 2009, the service responded to over 23,500 search and rescue cases, saving some 4,700 lives. At the same time, it interdicted 3,700 undocumented migrants. With other partners, it prevented nearly 350,000 pounds of cocaine from entering the country via the Transit Zone - the two million square miles between the U.S. and Central and South American borders and which also includes Mexico, the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific. US Coast Guard Art Program 2010 Collection, Ob ID # 201011, "Marooned," James Consor, oil, 24 x 30
