15 boaters are safe after military and local first responders rescued them south of Goat Island near Tinian on Sunday in their distressed vessel. 

The CNMI Department of Public Safety said that a Tinian DPS rescue boat was launched on Sunday but had to return to shore due to weather conditions that limited visibility.

A U.S. Navy Helicopter brought two male boaters to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam for medical treatment on Sunday. 

At 5 a.m. Monday, the 13 other boaters were brought back to Saipan and placed under the custody of U.S. Homeland Security. They were rescued by the crew of an offshore supply vessel Triton operated by Cabras Marine Corporation that arrived in Saipan that morning. The USNS Jack Lummus first arrived and remained on scene as the Triton "was a safer platform to recover the boaters due to their respective size and design," according to the U.S. Coast Guard. 

"The hoist capable helicopter crew and local good Samaritans aboard the other vessels were vital to affecting a timely response and saving lives in this case,” said Lt. Chelsea Garcia, search and rescue mission coordinator.

CNMI DPS said in a press release that authorities are “now investigating the possible violations of Human Smuggling.” CNMI DPS said that 12 of the boaters are Chinese nationals. 

 “While this case appears to involve the transit of foreign nationals from the CNMI, we cannot comment further on the ongoing law enforcement investigation," Lt. Garcia said.

Lt. Garcia said this is the third major rescue between Guam and the CNMI since January.