4 recovered after boat collision; Waterway closed as Coast Guard, state, local responders continue search for 2 in James River, VA

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©USCG (archive)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Good Samaritans rescued four people from the water Saturday morning, after a collision between a recreational boat, with six people aboard, and an oyster barge being pushed by a tug which was headed for an oyster bed near the James River Bridge.

First responders from multiple agencies are working together by boat and air to search for the two other people that were aboard the 19-foot center console boat when the incident occurred. The waterway is closed between the James River Bridge and the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel for safety of life.

The tug Miss Hannah called the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 at 7:44 a.m., when they saw the bow of the recreational boat pop up behind a tug pushing an oyster barge with a pump barge alongside. Good Samaritans recovered four of the people in the water and they were taken to a local hospital where they are expected to make a full recovery.

Search assets have included crews aboard a Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, Coast Guard Station Portsmouth search and rescue boats, a Virginia Marine Police airplane, a Virginia Marine Resources Commission boat, Newport News police and fire boats and a Hampton Roads police boat.

The Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Resources Commission are jointly investigating the cause of the incident.

-USCG-

Air Station Elizabeth City medevacs woman 150 miles off Wilmington, NC

Coast Guard medevacs cruise ship passenger 150 miles southeast of Wilmington, NC

Video: U.S. Coast Guard District 5 PADET Baltimore

A Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City medevacs an 80-year-old passenger from a cruise ship approximately 150 miles off Wilmington, North Carolina. The woman reportedly suffered a stroke and needed immediate medical attention. 
(U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Elizabeth City)

PORTSMOUTH, Va -- A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter medevaced an 80-year-old passenger from the cruise ship Adventure of the Seas today.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 5^th District command center were contacted by the crew of the cruise ship and requested the medevac of an 80-year-old female passenger who had reportedly suffered a stroke and needed medical assistance.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C. was launched to assist. After hoisting the woman, the helicopter crew transported her to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington for treatment.

-USCG-

Coast Guard crews assist disabled sailboat off North Carolina coast

PORTSMOUTH, Va.-The Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous and Coast Guard Cutter Richard Snyder towed a disabled sailboat with two people aboard to safety Tuesday.

The crew of the sailing vessel Gaia became disabled after being demasted and losing all electrical power. The crew activated an Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) which notified the Coast Guard that the crew was in distress approximately 37-miles off Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City launched a HH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew and lowered a handheld radio to the crew of the Gaia Sunday night.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was diverted to the scene to assist and placed the sailboat in tow.

The crew of the Vigorous transferred the tow to the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Snyder, a 154-foot fast response cutter based out of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, who then brought the Gaia to Beaufort, North Carolina early Tuesday morning.

"EPIRB's are a phenomenal resource for boaters," said Thomas Botzenhart, operations unit controller at the Coast Guard's 5th District command center. “Once activated it makes it much easier to find your vessel in an emergency. However, you have to keep your registration and contact information updated in order for the process to be effective.”

-USCG-

Coast Guard assists 4 people, 1 dog stranded on island off Cape Lookout, NC

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©USCG

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Coast Guard crews assisted four people and their dog after their vessel ran aground near Cape Lookout Sunday evening.

TowBoatUS personnel notified watchstanders at Sector North Carolina's command center in Wilmington at 9:40 p.m. that a 20-foot vessel was taking on water in the vicinity of Shark Island, which is about 500 yards south of Cape Lookout.

A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched to assist.

When the Coast Guard crews arrived on scene, they found that the boat had run aground and the people were stranded in knee-deep water on the edge of Shark Island.

The helicopter crew hoisted all four adults and their dog from the island and transported them to Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort.

There were no reported injuries or pollution. The boat's owner is arranging salvage plans with TowBoatUS.

"We are thankful that the individuals did not attempt to swim back to shore," said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Nicholas Kealy, co-pilot of the Jayhawk helicopter crew. "The current is significantly strong in that area, and it could have put them in a dangerous situation. We are glad they showed great judgment and called for help."

-USCG-

Coast Guard rescues man after search off Emerald Isle, NC

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©U.S. Coast Guard

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued a man Saturday after a search that began Friday when two men aboard a recreational fishing boat were reported overdue near Emerald Isle.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center in Wilmington received notification at about 7:45 p.m. Friday that a 23-foot center console with two people aboard were expected to arrive at Bogue Inlet by 5:30 p.m., but had not returned from their voyage.

The Coast Guard immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert mariners in the area. The Coast Guard sent a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Emerald Isle, and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Station Fort Macon, along with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and C-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Elizabeth City to search.

The Station Emerald Isle crew located a capsized vessel matching the description of the overdue boat just outside of Bogue Inlet.

One of the overdue boaters was wearing a life jacket and was able to swim to shore. An Emerald Isle Fire Dept. crew located the man who was displaying signs of hypothermia, and placed him in the care of EMS.

The Coast Guard received a call from a person walking the shoreline near Bogue Inlet at about 4:40 a.m., reporting cries for help. A 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water crew from Station Emerald Isle arrived on scene and found the missing man clinging to the hard-top canopy from the overturned boat near Buoy 10 inside Bogue Inlet.

The man was taken to shore and placed in the care of awaiting EMS after displaying signs of hypothermia.

"The fact that these boaters told someone they were going out and planned to be back at a certain time is what saved this man's life today," said Chief Petty Officer Ryan Alexander, command duty officer for Sector North Carolina. "Wearing a life jacket exponentially increases the chances of survival in situations like this."

-USCG-

Coast Guard medevacs 83-year-old cruise ship passenger off NC coast

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, hoists an ailing cruise ship passenger about 160 miles off the North Carolina coast, May 11, 2018. The crew was notified at 10:30 a.m. that an 83-year-old woman aboard the cruise ship was suffering symptoms of renal failure and needed a medical evacuation. (U.S. Coast Guard video, courtesy of Air Station Elizabeth City/Released)

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Coast Guard aircrew medevaced an 83-year-old woman suffering symptoms of renal failure aboard a cruise ship approximately 160 miles southeast of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Friday afternoon.

The captain aboard the cruise ship Anthem of the Seas contacted watchstanders at the Fifth District Command Center in Portsmouth at 10:30 a.m. to request a medical evacuation.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched to assist the ailing passenger.

The helicopter crew hoisted the woman, her family member and a nurse aboard, then transported them to Norfolk Sentara General Hospital in Norfolk.

“Our main priority during emergencies like these is to reach the person as quickly as possible and deliver them to higher care,” said Lt. j.g. Catherine Taylor Pravia, operations unit controller for the case. “Our thoughts are with this patient and her family, and we wish her a speedy recovery.”

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