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 missing kayaker near San Luis Pass, Texas

HOUSTON — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing kayaker near San Luis Pass, Texas, Friday evening. 

An extensive 41-hour search was conducted covering an area of 2,638 square miles.

Involved in the search were: 

• An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew
• A Station Freeport 45-foot Response Boat–Medium boat crew
• A Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew
• The Coast Guard Cutter Beluga 
• Galveston Island Police Department 
• Galveston Island Beach Patrol 

"It's always an incredibly difficult decision to suspend a search," said Lt. Mike Hart, Sector Houston-Galveston command duty officer. "We have to consider all the factors involved in the case, and we never make the decision lightly. Our condolences go out to Mr. Ferguson's family and friends."

Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a call from the wife of the missing kayaker after he failed to contact her Wednesday. She also reported that Galveston Beach Patrol had found his truck locked, but without the kayak.

Anyone with information on the missing kayaker can contact the Sector Houston-Galveston Command Center at 281-464-4853. 

-USCG-

Coast Guard medevacs woman from cruise ship in Gulf of Mexico

The Coast Guard medevaced a woman from a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 230 nautical miles off shore Southwest Pass, Louisiana, November 17, 2018.

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medevaced a woman from a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 230 nautical miles off shore Southwest Pass, Louisiana, Saturday.

Watchstanders at the Eighth Coast Guard District command center received a report from the cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway at 9:15 a.m. of a 64-year-old female suffering from abdominal pain.

District watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew and a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter air crew to medevac the woman.

The helicopter crew hoisted the woman and transferred her to West Jefferson Medical Center in fair condition.

-USCG-

Coast Guard rescues 4 fishermen 60 miles off Maine coast

The Air Station Cape Cod rescue aircrews and the rescued four fishermen from the fishing boat Aaron & Melissa II pose for a group photograph at Brunswick Executive Airport in Brunswick, Maine, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. The fishing crew abandoned ship about 60 miles off the coast of Rockland, Maine. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Kate Dacimo)

BOSTON — The Coast Guard rescued four fishermen Wednesday after abandoning their boat off the coast of Rockland, Maine.

The captain of the 76-foot fishing vessel Aaron & Melissa II radioed watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England at approximately 7:45 a.m., reporting the fishing boat was taking on water.

An HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews launched from Air Station Cape Cod and located the raft and fishermen.

A rescue swimmer deployed from the helicopter and hoisted all four fishermen to the helicopter.

The aircrew landed at Brunswick Executive Airport in Brunswick, Maine, where they were met by emergency medical service personnel and transported to Mid Coast Hospital.

The fishermen were reported to be in good condition.

The weather was reported to have 20-foot seas, 30-knot winds, and the water temperature 50 degrees.

-USCG-