Coast Guard suspends search for missing fisherman 300 miles east of Cape Canaveral

HC-130 Hercules Air Station Clearwater, U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse (archive).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday for a missing fisherman who reportedly went overboard 300 miles east of Cape Canaveral.

Missing is Russell Minor.

After searching more than 4,640 square miles for over 42 hours, officials were unable to locate Minor who was reported missing Sunday.

Involved with the search were the Coast Guard Cutters Dependable (WMEC-626) and William Flores (WPC-1103) and aircraft crews from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Elizabeth City, and Miami.

U.S. Coast Guard photograph courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Dependable (archive).

USCG Cutter William Flores, U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristen Cheyenne Yarber (archive).

"The decision to suspend a search is never easy and not one we make lightly," said Christopher Eddy, search and rescue specialist for the Coast Guard 7th District. "Coast Guard crews searched day and night but, unfortunately, were unable to locate Mr. Minor. Our hearts go out to the entire family during this difficult time."

The Coast Guard’s search will remain suspended pending the development of new information.​

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Coast Guard searching for a missing fisherman 300 miles east of Cape Canaveral

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse (archive).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —​ The Coast Guard is searching​ Sunday for a missing fisherman 300 miles east of Cape Canaveral.

At 2:57 a.m., Coast Guard 7th District Command Center watchstanders received a report from the Day Boat Too, a 46-foot fishing vessel, stating the captain, a 30-year-old male, went overboard.

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew launched and commenced searching after dropping a self-locating datum marker buoy​ (SLDMB)​ when they arrived on scene at 6:30 a.m. An Air Station Elizabeth City Hercules aircrew relieved the Clearwater aircrew at 10:25 a.m., dropped another SLDMB and continued searching.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dependable is also en route to assist in the search.

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Coast Guard searching for missing vessel east of Port Canaveral

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater prepare the aircraft, U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse (archive).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard is searching Sunday for a missing vessel east of Port Canaveral.​

Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Command Center watchstanders received a distress call at 4 p.m. from a vessel stating they were caught in a storm and were in need of assistance.

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater​ MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and a Station Port Canaveral 45-foot Response Boat-Medium commenced searching.

An Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew also launched to assist in the search.

Anyone with information that can assist in the search is asked to contact Sector Jacksonville Command Center watchstanders at 904-714-7555.

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Pilots aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Miami.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse (archive).

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Coast Guard, FWC searching for overdue boater 6 miles south of Stock Island

MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter ©USCG (archive)

MIAMI — The Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are searching for an overdue boater Saturday 6 miles south of Stock Island.

Overdue is Raymond Robins, 65.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West command center received a call from FWC at 9:50 p.m., Friday stating a 24-foot pleasure craft with one person aboard was overdue. The watchstanders acquired a position from Robins’ cell phone.

Searching are crews from:

• The Coast Guard Cutter William Trump
• A Coast Guard Station Key West 45-foot Response Boat—Medium
• A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
• FWC marine and aircrews.

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Coast Guard rescues 2 Haitians from disabled vessel 12 miles west of Great Inagua

MH-60 Jayhawk ©USCG

MIAMI—The Coast Guard rescued two Haitian mariners Monday from the disabled 50-foot freighter, Azema, approximately 12 miles west of Great Inagua, Bahamas.

Watchstanders with Coast Guard 7^th District command center received a call from Bahamian authorities reporting a vessel in distress. A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed in Great Inagua was launched.

The helicopter crew arrived on scene with an interpreter to determine the vessel was disabled. Due to heavy seas causing the vessel to take on water, the helicopter crew hoisted the two Haitians and brought them to Great Inagua.

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Coast Guard locates missing boater 15 miles west of Suwannee

An Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules air plane crew maintains communications with Jerry Driggers, a boater from Trenton, Florida, 15 miles west of Suwannee, Florida, Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew located Driggers after he went missing aboard his 22-foot boat. (U.S. Coast Guard video)

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Coast Guard located a missing boater 15 miles west of Suwannee on Friday.

Rescued was Trenton native, Jerry Driggers, 71.

At 10:57 p.m. Thursday, Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a report from Driggers' wife stating Driggers was due back from a fishing trip aboard his 22-foot boat by sunset and had not returned. Driggers' wife gave watchstanders a complete float plan, including where he was leaving from, where he was going, and when he planned to return.

An Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched, and at 5:27 a.m. Friday, located Driggers aboard his boat. After the air crew lowered a radio to Driggers, he stated he was OK, but his boat was disabled. An HC-130 Hercules also was launched and maintained communications with Driggers.

A commercial salvage boat crew went to Driggers location and towed him back to shore. There were no reported injuries.

"Mr. Driggers did everything right," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Walker, a Sector St. Petersburg watchstander. "Float plans dramatically decrease the search area for emergency responders. We urge every boater to prepare a float plan and give it to a family member or friend before leaving the dock."

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Coast Guard rescues 5 people from capsized boat near Cedar Key, Fla.

Coast Guard crew members aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater, Florida, hoist five capsized boaters 24 miles south west of Withlacoochee River, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. All the boaters were transported to the George T. Lewis Airport, in Cedar Key, Florida, with no reported injuries. (U.S. Coast Guard video.)

CEDAR KEY, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued 5 people Saturday from the water after their boat capsized 24 miles south west of the Withlacoochee River.

Rescued were: Hollie Moore, Todd Nanke, Troy Nanke, Steven Nanke, Chris Singlekey.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a distress call via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 from one of the boaters stating, “We’re going down” at 12:17 p.m., and watchstanders at the Coast Guard District 7 command center received a personal locator beacon alert at 12:19 p.m.

An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Clearwater was diverted to assist. The aircrew arrived at 1:06 p.m. and hoisted the five boaters who were clinging to the hull of their 24-foot boat. All five were wearing their life jackets.

The boaters were transported to George T. Lewis Airport. No injuries were reported.

“These boaters are an excellent example of the importance of having emergency safety gear; by activating their personal position-indicating radio beacon, that alert gave rescuers a pin-point location of their distress,” said Lt. Andrew Schwalbenberg, pilot and public affairs officer at Air Station Clearwater. “Although the Coast Guard's Seventh District, including aircrews from Air Station Clearwater, are working tirelessly to help those impacted by Hurricane Florence, we will continue to execute our day-to-day operations outside of hurricane-affected areas."

A Hazard to Navigation was issued by Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders alerting mariners in the area about the capsized boat.

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28 rescued after fishing boat catches fire

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130 Hercules airplane crew circles above multiple life rafts with survivors from a fishing vessel that was on fire approximately 46 miles southwest of Serranilla Bank, Columbia Friday, Sept. 15, 2018. The 774-foot tanker vessel, Challenge Pollux, rescued 28 people from the water in a joint effort with the U.S. Coast Guard and Colombian Navy. U.S. Coast Guard video courtesy of Air Station Clearwater

MIAMI — The Coast Guard responded to a fishing boat on fire, and a good Samaritan rescued 28 people aboard the boat Friday, 46 miles southwest of Serranilla Bank, Colombia.

At 11:33 p.m. Thursday, Coast Guard Seventh District Miami, watch standers received a report from the Jamaican Defence Force stating a 131-foot fishing boat was on fire and needed emergency assistance.

Watch standers issued an enhanced group calling (EGC) message and launched an Air Station Clearwater, Florida, HC-130 Hercules air plane crew. The Hercules crew located the fishing boat on fire.

The crew aboard the Challenge Pollux, a 774-foot tanker, responded to the EGC and rescued all 28 people. A Colombian Navy ship arrived on scene, embarked the 28 people and transported them to shore.

"We wish those with injuries a speedy recovery," said Capt. Shawn Koch, the Coast Guard Seventh District Incident Management chief. "This rescue was a testament to the outstanding coordination between Joint Rescue Coordination Center Miami and our international partners. Although the Coast Guard's Seventh District is working tirelessly to help those impacted by Hurricane Florence, we continue to execute our day-to-day operations outside of hurricane-affected areas."

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Coast Guard awards Air Station Clearwater crewmembers for 2017 hurricane season

Photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley Johnson, U.S. Coast Guard District 7 PADET Tampa Bay

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida, crewmembers Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew W. Silvious, an aviation survival technician, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jean A. Medina, an aviation maintenance technician hold up their Air Medal citations after an awards ceremony at the air station July, 3, 2018. Silvious and Medina were honored for rescuing two people from a sailboat during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Coast Guard presented more than 100 awards Tuesday to Air Station Clearwater crewmembers in Clearwater for their efforts during the 2017 hurricane season.

Air Station Clearwater crewmembers were awarded for saving lives and providing humanitarian aid through hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate.

Among the awards presented were two Air Medals, the Coast Guard’s second highest award for aerial valor. Petty Officer 1^st Class Matthew W. Silvious, an aviation survival technician, and Petty Officer 2^nd Class Jean A. Medina, an aviation maintenance technician, were honored for rescuing two people from a sailboat during Hurricane Irma.

On September 9, 2017, Silvious and Medina flew 420 miles aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter into 60-70 mph winds, rain, and near zero visibility at night. Due to the hurricane, there were no emergency landing or refueling options.

Medina operated the hoist and delivered Silvious to the water while fighting to keep the cable from entangling the sailboat or the people in the water. Silvious fought off winds, waves, and the pull of the helicopter to reach the boaters in distress. Despite all obstacles, the crew rescued the two boaters.

The rescue was only one of countless missions Air Station Clearwater crewmembers performed during the historic hurricane season. The air station’s commanding officer, Capt. Ward Sandlin, praised the crew’s accomplishments and said, “From the bottom of my heart, I could not be prouder.”

Air Station Clearwater crewmembers maintain and operate HC-130 Hercules airplanes and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters for a multitude of missions under the direction of the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area. The air station’s area of operations includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean basin and the Bahamas.

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