Coast Guard assesses grounded vessel Don Quixote at Cape Kuliuk, Kodiak, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew looks for potential pollution at the site of the grounded 76-foot landing craft Don Quixote at Cape Kuliuk, Kodiak Island, Alaska, Feb. 26, 2019.The two crew members aboard were unharmed in the grounding and able to make it to shore. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak.

KODIAK, Alaska​ — The Coast Guard is working with contractors to mitigate the pollution threat posed by a vessel that ran aground near Cape Kuliuk on Kodiak Island, Tuesday.

​

The 76-foot landing craft Don Quixote was intentionally grounded by its operator Tuesday, approximately two miles south of Cape Kuliuk, after it began taking on water with two people aboard.

​

The​ vessel remains grounded Wednesday on a pebble beach with an estimated maximum potential of 2,000 gallons of fuel oil onboard.

​

The Coast Guard has opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Contractors for Global Diving and Salvage are scheduled to arrive on-scene Thursday to evaluate the vessel's seaworthiness and form a Coast Guard-approved plan to mitigate the pollution threat.

​

"Our job is to ensure the potential for pollution in this situation is mitigated," said Lt. James Nunez, incident management division chief for Coast Guard Sector Anchorage. "Protecting the environment is our top priority."

​

A Coast Guard overflight Wednesday morning confirmed minor sheening in the vicinity of the grounded vessel.

​

The Coast Guard initially launched two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews and a C-130 Hercules Aircraft crew from Air Station Kodiak in response to distress calls made from the Don Quixote. Crews delivered dewatering pumps to help with the flooding.

​

The cause of the flooding has not yet been verified by the Coast Guard.

​

-USCG-

Coast Guard conducts long-range medevac near St. Paul, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevacs a man from the 147-foot fishing vessel Blue Attu north of St. Paul, Alaska, Sunday, November 18, 2018. The crew hoisted and transported a 63-year-old crew member from the Blue Attu to awaiting Guardian emergency flight services personnel in St. Paul for further care and transport to Anchorage. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak.

KODIAK, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a man from a commercial fishing vessel approximately 100 miles north of St. Paul, Alaska, Sunday.

The crew hoisted and transported a 63-year-old crew member from the 147-foot Blue Attu to awaiting Guardian emergency flight services personnel in St. Paul for further care and transport to Anchorage. He was reported to be in stable condition at the time of transfer.

Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders received initial notification from Health Force Partners Saturday stating a crew member was displaying symptoms of a stroke. A Coast Guard duty flight surgeon was briefed, and due to the man’s symptoms, the flight surgeon recommended a medevac. 

Command center watchstanders directed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter already in Cold Bay to transit to St. Paul. The watchtanders directed a Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew to transit to St. Paul as well. A second MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew was sent from Kodiak to Cold Bay to be on stand-by. 

Once in St. Paul, the Jayhawk aircrew refueled and embarked a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, who was brought to St. Paul via the HC-130 Hercules aircraft. Coast Guard Cutter Healy was in the vicinity of the medevac area, and after the Jayhawk aircrew took off from St. Paul, they re-fueled on board the Healy again before transiting to the Blue Attu to conduct the medevac. That crew was forced to abort the medevac due to unfavorable conditions.

The Jayhawk crew on standby was able to successfully conduct the hoist Sunday afternoon.

The Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew provided safety and communications cover for the MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew as they conducted the hoist and transported the man back to St. Paul. 

“Long-range medevacs in the Bering Sea can be logistically challenging,” said Lt. Megan Peters, Air Station Kodiak operations duty officer on Sunday. “Four aircrews and three air platforms were required to complete this mission. With careful planning, teamwork and patience, we got it done.”

Weather on scene for the hoist was 3-foot seas and 10 mph winds.

-USCG-

Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak Dolphin aircrew medevacs man near Dutch Harbor, Alaska

MH-65 Dolphin Air Station Kodiak ©USCG (archive)

KODIAK, Alaska – A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew medevaced a man from the 1,099-foot bulk carrier Ever Living 57 miles southeast of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Saturday.

The Dolphin aircrew hoisted and transported a 28-year-old crew member from the Ever Living to awaiting LifeMed personnel in Dutch Harbor for further care and transport to Anchorage.

Coast Guard 17th District Command Center watchstanders received initial notification Friday evening from the Ever Living master via email stating a crew member suffered burns while working on the ship’s incinerator. The Ever Living was approximately 621 miles from Dutch Harbor at the time of initial notification.

A Coast Guard duty flight surgeon was briefed, and due to the man’s symptoms, the flight surgeon recommended a medevac.

Command center watchstanders instructed the Ever Living master to transit toward Dutch Harbor and directed an awaiting Dolphin helicopter aircrew in Dutch Harbor to prepare for the medevac.

“We had the Ever Living transit toward Dutch Harbor to get within range of the Dolphin helicopter crew and to lessen the flight time for the injured crew member,” said Chief Petty Officer Seth Caron, District 17 operational unit controller. “We hope he gets the necessary care needed and makes a full recovery.”

Weather on scene was 6-foot seas and 17 mph winds.

-USCG-