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 rescues 2 from capsized sailboat, 65 miles east of New Jersey

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, supports an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, as they hoist two survivors from a capsized vessel about 65 miles east of Atlantic City, May 29, 2019. When their sailboat capsized, the mariners used their properly-registered emergency position indicating radio beacon to alert the Coast Guard to their distress. (U.S. Coast Guard video courtesy, Air Station Elizabeth City)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Coast Guard crews rescued a man and woman from a capsized sailboat about 65 miles east of Atlantic City late Wednesday night.

The Coast Guard’s Fifth District Command Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, was notified of the vessel’s distress after receiving an alert from the crew’s Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon.

Watchstanders called the emergency contact registered with the EPIRB, who said the mariners have been sailing around the world for the past few years on the 55-foot wooden-hull sailboat, Bertie, and the last leg of the trip had been from the Bahamas to New York City.

The vessel was outside of range for VHF and cell reception, so watchstanders directed the Coast Guard Cutter Lawrence Lawson, an Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and an Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules airplane crew to the EPIRB’s location, where the sailboat was found capsized.

“When our helicopter arrived on-scene, the crew followed a blinking strobe light and discovered a man and a woman clinging to the hull of their capsized sailboat," said Lt. Tyler Bittner, the operations duty officer in Atlantic City.

Both mariners were hoisted aboard the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and brought back to Air Station Atlantic City, where they were met by awaiting EMS.

The Coast Guard Cutter Lawrence Lawson remained on scene to mark the sailboat and attempt to recover the EPIRB.

"This was an extremely challenging hoist due to on-scene conditions, but the entire crew came together to work as a team to get the job done," said Lt. Anthony Monteforte, one of the helicopter pilots on the case. "I am extremely proud of my crew and all of the other assets that aided in this rescue and thankful that the survivors onboard used a currently registered EPIRB so that we could quickly locate them."

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Lawrence Lawson, a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in Cape May, New Jersey, approaches a capsized 55-foot wooden sailboat about 65 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey, May 29, 2019. An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, rescued two mariners, who they found clinging to the capsized boat’s hull. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy, Cutter Lawrence Lawson).

The two mariners aboard the vessel used their emergency position indicating radio beacon to call for help when their boat capsized. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy, Cutter Lawrence Lawson).

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Coast Guard cutter, helicopter crews medevac ailing man from sailboat 200 miles off Cape Hatteras, NC

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, hoists an ailing man from Coast Guard Cutter Spencer about 200 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Nov. 10, 2018. The man was experiencing chest pains aboard a sailboat 275 miles offshore when the vessel’s crew requested a medevac. (U.S. Coast Guard video, courtesy of Air Station Elizabeth City/Released)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a 57-year-old man suffering chest pains aboard a 48-foot sailing vessel approximately 200 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, NC, Saturday morning.

Watchstanders at the Fifth District Command Center in Portsmouth received Personal Locater Beacon and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alerts registered to the sailboat Marie Elena at around noon Friday.

Command Center personnel also received a call from a ham radio operator with the Maritime Mobile Service Network in Inverness, Florida, who established a direct connection between the watchstanders and the Marie Elena’s crew via HF radio.

The operator of the Marie Elena requested a medevac of his ailing crewman.

Due to the sailboat’s distance offshore, command center personnel directed the vessel’s operator to head toward Cape Hatteras, then redirected the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Spencer, who was underway near the Virginia-North Carolina border. Watchstanders also contacted the captain of the nearby cargo ship Rolldock Sky, who agreed to close the 40-mile gap and assist the ailing mariner.

Due to rough seas, the Rolldock Sky’s crew could not safely conduct a medevac, so the Marie Elena’s operator continued heading ashore.

The crew of the Spencer rendezvoused with the sailboat at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday, launched a small boat crew and transported the man aboard the cutter.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched at around 8:30 a.m. The Jayhawk crew hoisted the man from the Spencer and transported him to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk.

“The fact that the EPIRB and PLB were registered and utilized properly allowed us to hone in on the sailboat’s location," said Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Unser, the search and rescue coordinator for the case. "The assistance we received from the ham radio operator was crucial in helping us communicate with the vessel’s crew."

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Coast Guard medevacs man on fishing boat in Pamlico Sound, NC

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, medevacs a man who was reportedly suffering from heart problems on a fishing boat in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, Oct. 30, 2018. The man was taken off of the fishing boat and put on a Coast Guard 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Hatteras Inlet before being hoisted up to avoid the obstructions created by the rigging equipment.
(U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Elizabeth City)

WILMINGTON — The Coast Guard medevaced a 63-year-old man who was reportedly showing symptoms of a heart attack on the fishing boat Papa’s Girl, in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, Tuesday evening.

A crewmember aboard the fishing boat contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina command center at 5:30 p.m., via VHF-FM radio channel 16 and notified them of the man's condition. A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Hatteras Inlet and an aircrew aboard a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City launched to assist.

The man was transferred to the 47-foot Motor Life Boat due to the fishing gear obstructions aboard Papas Girl.

Once the man was on the boat, the aircrew conducted a safe hoist and transported him to Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

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Coast Guard suspends search for downed aircraft 110 miles east of Charleston

HC-130 Hercules ©USCG (archive)

CHARLERSTON, S.C. - The Coast Guard suspended their search Saturday evening for a downed civilian aircraft approximately 110 miles east of Charleston.

Coast Guard 7th District suspended the search after searching approximately 3,516 square miles for 76 hours.

"It is with a heavy heart that we suspend our search for the missing aircraft and its five passengers," said Capt. John Reed, Commander, Sector Charleston. "I have spoken with the family of those that were on this plane and extend my deepest sympathies to them and all those who have been hit by this tragic loss at sea."

The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) notified Coast Guard 7th Districtwatchstanders Thursday of a civilian aircraft emergency at 11:33 a.m. The Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center received a report from the aircraft of an in-flight emergency, lost contact on radar and notified the AFRCC. The aircraft, a Piper PA-31, was leaving from South Carolina to the Bahamas.

Involved in the search were:

• Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules aircraft
• Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
• Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton
• Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal
• Navy P-3 Orion
• Commercial vessel Seabulk Challenge

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Coast Guard airdrops supplies to disabled cargo ship 1380 miles off Bermuda

A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew aboard am HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, airdrops one weeks worth of food to the disabled cargo ship, Alta, approximately 1380 miles southeast of Bermuda, Oct. 2, 2018. The Alta became disabled while in transit from Greece to Haiti.
(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Elizabeth City)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard airdropped a large supply of MREs to a disabled cargo ship approximately 1380 miles southeast of Bermuda, Tuesday, and continues to monitor the situation.

The Coast Guard was notified Sunday morning that the 250-foot Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, Alta, with 10 people onboard, became disabled while transiting from Greece to Haiti, and was unable to make repairs. The crew reported that they had enough food for two days and water for 15 days, and that there were no injuries or immediate medical concerns.

The Coast Guard has been maintaining regular communications with the vessel and utilizing the Automated Mutual-assistance Vessel Rescue System to find nearby vessels that may be able to assist.

An aircrew aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, was able to airdrop enough food for one week to the crew Tuesday afternoon, which was retrieved by Alta’s crewmembers. The crew was reported to be in high spirits.

The ship owner has contracted a commercial tug to tow the vessel to Saint Maarten, which is expected to arrive at the Alta’s location next week.

The Coast Guard continues to monitor the Alta and coordinate rescue efforts.

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Coast Guard aircrews transport stranded medical personnel to Wilmington

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City transported stranded medical personnel to work at an operational hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. The hospital was unreachable by ground due to flooding from Hurricane Florence, but it was functioning and treating patients. U. S. Coast Guard photo by Auxiliarist Trey Clifton/Released.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Elizabeth City transported 17 medical personnel to New Hanover Regional Medical Center hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina, at the request of Congressman David Rouzer, representative for the Seventh Congressional District of North Carolina, Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. The medical personnel were unable to reach the hospital due to conditions left in the wake of Florence. (U. S. Coast Guard photo by Auxiliarist Trey Clifton)

ELIZABETH CITY, NC. — A Coast Guard aircrew transported 17 medical personnel to New Hanover Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, Monday.

Congressman David Rouzer, representative for the Seventh Congressional District of North Carolina, noticed the medical personnel were stranded due to conditions left in the wake of hurricane Florence and requested Coast Guard assistance.

Coast Guard air and surface crews rescued 434 people and 234 pets since Hurricane Florence made landfall Friday.

Over 3,000 Coast Guard members deployed to North Carolina are working with our state and local partners responding across the state to rescue those in distress.

Our 35 deployed shallow-water response boats cleared 565 miles of road across the state and are working with local county agencies to rescue those in distress.

The Coast Guard urges the public to use 911 or VHF Ch. 16 if in distress.

Please check with your local emergency operation centers and state websites for updates on road conditions.

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Coast Guard airplanes, helicopters fly out of potential Florence impact area in Elizabeth City, NC

Coast Guardsmen at Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, move air assets out of the area of potential impact of Hurricane Florence, Sept. 12, 2018. The Coast Guard is strategically moving assets to protect them from the storm’s impact, while ensuring they are in an optimal position for the response. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Auxiliarist Trey Clifton)

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — U.S. Coast Guard personnel at Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, move air assets out of the area of potential impact of Hurricane Florence, Sept. 12, 2018. The Coast Guard is strategically moving assets to protect them from the storm’s impact, while ensuring they are in an optimal position for the response. One HH-60 Jayhawk will shelter in place during the storm for immediate life-saving operations when severe weather conditions recede.

Coast Guard coordinates joint-agency rescue of 5 people from seaplane 460 miles off NC

HC-130 Hercules © USCG(archive)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of five persons from a seaplane, which had to make an emergency landing, approximately 460 miles east southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Saturday.

The seaplane left Elizabeth City, North Carolina, early Saturday morning and was forced to make the emergency landing after striking an object during take-off, which damaged the aircraft’s front node. Everyone aboard the aircraft donned their life jackets upon landing on the water.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 5th District command center were notified of the distressed plane Saturday afternoon by the International Emergency Response Coordination Center. An HC-130 Hercules aircraft was launched from Air Station Elizabeth City to monitor the situation.

The Coast Guard utilized the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System to divert the 754-foot Liberian bulk carrier, Polar Peru, which was transiting nearby. The crew of the Polar Peru arrived on scene and transferred the five persons onto their vessel Saturday night.

The U.S. Navy diverted USS Mason (DDG 87) to rendezvous with Polar Peru to transport the rescued seaplane passengers back to the United States. The guided-missile destroyer was underway conducting operations in the Atlantic Ocean with Carrier Strike Group 12.

Coast Guard personnel from station Mayport are scheduled to meet USS Mason Monday morning to take the passengers to Mayport, Florida.

“We were able to get help for the seaplane by initiating an alert through the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System,” said Lt. Daniel Dunn, the command duty officer at the 5th District command center. “We encourage commercial mariners to enroll their vessels in this system which helps to coordinate emergency assistance from nearby vessels at sea. We would also like to commend the crew on how prepared they were for an emergency situation. They had all the required safety equipment, like life jackets, to ensure they would survive while response units were en route.”

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Coast Guard medevacs cruise ship passenger 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras, NC

Video by U.S. Coast Guard District 5

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, medevacs a cruise ship passenger 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, June 7, 2018. The passenger was medevaced to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital from the Carnival Horizon after reporting appendicitis-like symptoms. (U.S. Coast Guard video, courtesy Air Station Elizabeth City/Released)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a cruise ship passenger approximately 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Thursday morning.

Watchstanders at the 5th District command center in Portsmouth received notification at approximately 7:15 p.m. Wednesday from the cruise ship Carnival Horizon's crew that a 33-year-old woman was suffering appendicitis-like symptoms and needed a medevac.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, responded. Upon arrival, the helicopter crew hoisted the passenger and medevaced her to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk. 

"The Carnival Horizon diverted their course towards shore, which expedited our response time," said Lt. j.g. Daniel J. Dunn, command duty officer at the 5th District command center. "The success of this case was a result of exceptional coordination between the cruise ship, the command center and Air Station Elizabeth City."

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