 In January 1937 , El Occidente issued a distress call while she was in the Gulf of Mexico . After she reported a fire while some 200 nautical miles ( 370 @,@ 000 m ) south of the mouth of the Mississippi River , U.S. Coast Guard cutters Kimball and Triton and German freighter Leubeck all responded to the call . Before any reached the burning vessel , El Occidente reported that she had gotten the fire under control and needed no further assistance . El Occidente headed to Galveston . The following month , El Occidente issued another distress call , this time for a broken rudder while 80 nautical miles ( 150 km ) off the Virginia Capes . Coast Guard cutter Sebago responded and towed El Occidente to Norfolk , delivering her there on 7 February . 
