U.S., Canadian Coast Guard crews rescue man from capsized vessel near Sekiu

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer David Mosley (archive).

SEATTLE --- U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard crews rescued a 60-year-old man from a capsized vessel near the Hoko River in Sekiu, Washington, Sunday night.

The man was wearing a life jacket and was able to survive 45 minutes in the water before help arrived.​

Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a report at 5:42 p.m. of a capsized 12-foot aluminum rowboat.​

A U.S. Coast Guard Station Neah Bay 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Port Angeles assisted in the rescue.

The Canadian Coast Guard Ship John P. Tully and crew diverted to assist and recovered the man at 6:36 p.m.​

The Canadian crew transferred the man to the 47-foot MLB crew, who then brought him back to emergency medical service technicians waiting at Olsen Marina.​

The man was reported to be alert, responsive and uninjured.​

"This rescue highlights the absolute necessity for mariners to always wear personal floatation devices while on the water," said Petty Officer Alexander Polyak, an operations specialist at Sector Puget Sound. "Additionally, our joint coordination with the Canadian Coast Guard demonstrates how maritime safety transcends national boundaries; this case provided a unique opportunity to work directly with our international partners for a rapid, successful response."

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Coast Guard aircrew medevac woman off cruise ship west of Port Angeles, Wash.

U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy Sector Field Office Port Angeles (archive).

PORT ANGELES, Wash. — The Coast Guard medically evacuated a 67-year-old woman off the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas Thursday evening 14 miles west of Port Angeles.

A Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew hoisted the woman safely after she reportedly suffered symptoms related to a heart attack. The aircrew transferred her to a LifeFlight Network aircrew at Fairchild Hospital in Port Angeles, who then transported her to a hospital in Seattle for further care.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound command center received a phone call from the captain of the cruise ship at 8:26 p.m. and reported a medical emergency on the ship. The watchstanders diverted the Port Angeles aircrew from training in Neah Bay. The aircrew arrived on scene shortly after 9 p.m. and conducted the hoist.

The condition of the woman is unknown at this time.

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Coast Guard rescues 10 off boat southwest of Neah Bay, Washington

U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Sector Field Officer Port Angeles (archive).

SEATTLE —​ The Coast Guard rescued 10 people aboard a vessel in distress 25-miles southwest of Neah Bay, Thursday afternoon.

The crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Wahoo and a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Neah Bay rescued four minors and six adults and escorted the vessel to Neah Bay with no reported injuries.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound responded to a distress call, at 10:15 a.m., from a person aboard the 33-foot recreational vessel, Doesn’t Matter, who reported to be taking on water southwest of Cape Flattery.

All ten persons aboard the vessel reportedly donned life jackets. The master of the vessel attempted to reduce the flooding by engaging the engine and remaining in motion, however, the engine failed and the installed bilge pumps were unable to handle the rate at which water was flowing into the boat.

Sector Puget Sound watchstanders coordinated with the Wahoo and diverted them from a routine patrol in the area, and launched a crew aboard a 47-foot MLB. They also directed the launch of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and diverted another Dolphin helicopter from Sector Field Office/Air Station Port Angeles.

Crewmembers from the Wahoo launched their small boat with a rescue and assist team that deployed a P-6 dewatering pump to keep the vessel from sinking.

The small-boat crew was able to transfer eight passengers back to the Wahoo for safety, while two adults stayed behind to assist the team members as they worked to locate and secure the source of the flooding.

The source was reported to be a wash-down hose clamp which had broken off. The source was secured and the engine power restored.

The Wahoo escorted the vessel, under its own power, back to Neah Bay. There was no environmental contamination reported.

Coast Guard crewmembers aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Neah Bay, and aboard the deployable craft of the Coast Guard Cutter Wahoo, intercept and aid a 33-foot recreational vessel reportedly taking on water, 25-nautical miles southwest of Neah Bay, Wash., May 2, 2019.

Coast Guard responded to a call for help from the vessel, which was reportedly taking on water. 

U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Cutter Wahoo.

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