Coast Guard locates four people, overdue vessel offshore Orange Beach, Alabama

HC-144 Ocean Sentry pilots from Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala. 
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen (archive).

NEW ORLEANS —​ The Coast Guard located four people aboard an overdue vessel approximately 54 nautical miles offshore Orange Beach around 9 a.m., Monday.

Hunter Mccutcheon, Butch Mccutcheon, Cary Miller, and Brent Baker were located without reported injuries.

The people were stranded after their vessel’s battery died.

A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew launched from Aviation Training Center, Mobile, located the vessel Monday morning.

A Sea Tow boat crew transported the vessel and people to shore.

“Boaters are reminded to file a detailed float plan with a responsible party on shore,” said Paul Barnard, the recreational boating safety specialist at the Eighth Coast Guard District. “The float plan should include an anticipated time of departure and return, as well as an intended route and destination.​ That information will help searchers more quickly locate the vessel if it doesn’t return on time.”

A downloadable float plan is available here: http://floatplancentral.cgaux.org/download/USCGFloatPlan.pdf

-USCG-

Coast Guard suspends search for person in the water

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Brahm (archive).

NEW ORLEANS— The Coast Guard suspended its search for a person in the water near Panama City Beach, Florida, Sunday.

The Coast Guard and partner agencies searched approximately 1,281 square-nautical miles for over 27 hours but were unable to locate the missing man.

“The Coast Guard searched diligently with our partner agencies to locate the missing man,” said Cmdr. Matthew Derrenbacher, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard Sector Mobile. “We saturated the search area with assets and personnel but, unfortunately, were unable to locate him. The decision to suspend a search is never easy and our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the missing man during this difficult time.”

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at approximately 7:17 p.m. Friday of a person in the water at Panama City Beach struggling to return to shore.

The missing person was described as a 20-year-old white male with long black hair wearing black shorts.

Involved in the search were:​

• A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Panama City.
• An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.
• The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Marlin.
• An HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile.
• Panama City Police Department.
• Shore units and two helicopter crews from Bay County Sheriff's Office.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen (archive).

                              -USCG-

Coast Guard, local agencies search for two people aboard overdue vessel near Mobile Bay, Alabama

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard and local agencies are searching for two people aboard an overdue vessel in Mobile Bay, Alabama, Wednesday.

Missing are two mens, with 85-years-old and 40-years-old.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report at 6:30 p.m. of an overdue 22-foot white Jon boat with both men aboard.

A family member of one of the two men reported the men were planning to fish between the Theodore Ship Channel and Gaillard Island Tuesday evening and were supposed to return by 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Involved in the search is:

- Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter air crew

- Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew

- Mobile County Sheriff’s Flotilla

- Daphne Search and Rescue

- Mobile Police Department

- Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew

- Alabama Marine Resources

Anyone with information about the two men and overdue vessel is requested to contact Coast Guard Sector Mobile at (251) 441-6211.

-USCG-