Local men ferry food, supplies to 21 sailors stranded in gulf

TAMPA -- At first, Troy Butler thought the crew members aboard the 500-foot ship were waving hello.

"I thought they were just pointing out fish to us, being excited because we were catching a lot of kingfish," said Butler, 32.

That wasn't the case.

The 21 sailors on the Neptuna Mediterraneo are from Brazil. For two weeks they have been stranded aboard the ship, about 16 miles west of the Sunshine Skyway bridge in the Gulf of Mexico.

The ship was heading from Colombia to Houston to pick up cargo when its steering malfunctioned, said Coast Guard officials.

The Coast Guard has visited the ship three times since the ship's captain issued a distress signal on Sept. 25. On Oct. 1, they were told the crew needed water.

Since then, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Rob Suddarth, churches and individuals have donated food and water to the crew.

The Coast Guard has said the problem is financial -- the owner of the ship must pay for port fees and for a tug boat to tow them to shore. Since the ship is in international waters, the Coast Guard cannot take any action. Butler, the co-owner of an automotive repair shop on Nebraska Avenue, disagrees. When he boarded the ship Wednesday, the men were clearly dehydrated, he said. Some had blisters and raw skin from bathing in saltwater.

A year ago, Butler was stranded for two days where the ship is anchored. An Apollo Beach man heard his distress signal and rescued him.

Around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Butler and his neighbor, Joseph Peck of Zephyrhills, were fishing when they noticed the crew trying to get their attention. After a few minutes of miscommunication, Peck held up a pack of cigarettes and the crew sent down a bucket.

When the bucket was sent down a second time, two dollar bills and two last will and testaments were inside.

"I'm a grown man, and I cried my eyes out," Butler said. Butler and Peck have offered to fix the ship's mechanical problems, which may cost $70,000.

On Thursday, Butler and Peck returned to the ship with 2,500 hotdogs and buns, 500 packs of bologna, 500 bottles of water, 160 pounds of bananas, 37 candy bars and 50 to 60 loaves of bread. All were purchased with money from Butler's pocket. Culligan and Winn Dixie donated cases of water.

Butler will return today to drop off $2,500 worth of meat and produce along with medical supplies.

Before he left, Peck noticed a seaman whose skin was covered with bumps and bruises. He pulled him aside.

"He asked for therapeutic moisturizing lotion," Peck said.

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