Coast Guard medevacs woman from cruise ship off NC

A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, medevacs a woman from a cruise ship 50 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Jan. 21, 2018. The 40-year-old woman was reportedly suffering from abdominal pains and was transferred to Carteret Health Care in Morehead City.
(U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Elizabeth City)

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard medevaced a woman from the cruise ship Carnival Pride approximately 50 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Monday.

Crewmembers on the Carnival Pride contacted watchstanders at the Sector North Carolina command center and notified them that the 40-year-old woman was having abdominal pains and needed to be medevaced.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City launched to assist. Once on scene, the aircrew hoisted the woman up, accompanied by her spouse and a nurse. The woman was transported to Carteret Health Care in Morehead City.

“We would like to commend the ship’s crew for their quick communication,” said Ensign Magen Bloch, watchstander at Sector North Carolina. “Due to their actions, we were able to get this woman the care she needed.”

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Coast Guard, agency partners searching for 71-year-old man 30 miles southwest Crystal River

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — The Coast Guard continues to search Thursday for a 71-year-old man 30 miles southwest Crystal River.

Missing is a man from Crystal River.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center received a 911 relay at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday from Bishop’s wife stating he was overdue. She stated he departed Wednesday at 10 a.m from the Fort Island Trail Park aboard his 23-foot fishing boat. He was to return before sunset and was wearing a tee shirt and khaki shorts.

Watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast, launched a 27-foot Utility Boat-Medium (UT-M) boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) boatcrew from Station Sand Key and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Clearwater.

The Hercules aircrew spotted Bishop’s boat 15 miles south of Crystal River Thursday about 1 a.m. and the RB-M boatcrew confirmed it was unmanned and adrift.

Search crews are saturating a 1,250 square mile area west of Crystal River in search of Bishop. Partner agency personnel from Citrus County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are assisting with the search.

The Coast Guard urges all boaters to file a float plan with someone on land before venturing out on the water. Please download the Coast Guard Boating Safety APP for many safety tips and tools.

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Coast Guard, partners recover section of downed jet off Oahu

The tail section of a privately-owned Hunter Hawker aircraft is salvaged in the waters off Honolulu, Jan. 8, 2018. The Coast Guard coordinated with State of Hawaii and private parties to conduct the operation following a crash in December 2018. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Chief Warrant Officer Russ Strathern/released)

Chief Warrant Officer Russ Strathern, a marine safety specialist and response officer at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, observes a section of a Hawker Hunter aircraft as it is loaded onto a truck in Honolulu, Jan. 8, 2019. The privately-owned Hawker Hunter crashed during a Hawaii Air National Guard sponsored training exercise in December 2018. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew West/Released)

HONOLULU — Personnel from the Coast Guard and the State of Hawaii oversaw local salvor’s recovery of a section of the fuselage from a Hawker Hunter aircraft, downed initially in December, off Honolulu, Tuesday. 

“Using a blend of local salvage assets, remote engineering guidance, and advanced sensing technology sourced from the mainland, the locally based salvage company Parker Marine Corporation has completed the next stage of the aircraft salvage,” said Chief Warrant Officer Russ Strathern, a marine safety specialist, and response officer at Sector Honolulu. “The main section of the fuselage containing residual oil and potentially hazardous substances has been salvaged and transported to a staging location for the ongoing National Transportation Safety Board led investigation.”

Chief Warrant Officer Strathern also noted, “Because of the incident complexity and operational environment, this evolution was technically challenging. The aircraft owners worked tirelessly with the salvor and jurisdictional authorities to safely mitigate the threat to the public and environment, all while preserving evidence critical to future root-cause analyses. I’m pleased to note that there were no reported injuries after the initial accident or impacts to wildlife, these are great measures of success, and indicative of the hard work of the involved parties.”

Following exhaustive searches, the fuselage was positively identified in 260-feet of water by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in early January. After analyzing the data from the ROV, the salvor consulted with an engineer, formulated a plan, and received concurrence from the Coast Guard to proceed. Using the ROV, the salvage company lassoed the tail of the aircraft wreckage with line and slowly raised it to the surface. The team towed the section to a haul-out point designated by the State’s Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation Division. Following the section’s removal from the water, it was transported by truck to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where the NTSB will continue its investigation into the cause of the crash.

Throughout the operation, the Coast Guard worked closely with representatives from the Hawaii State Department of Health Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response and Department of Land and Natural Resources offices to monitor the salvage and recovery efforts. 

“With the removal of this section, which contained the aircraft’s engine, any oil or hazardous substances from the aircraft has either been removed or naturally dissipated and the remaining pieces do not pose a significant or substantial threat to the public or environment,” said Strathern. “Any future actions related to the crash site or remaining debris will be coordinated with the State’s Department of Land and Natural Resources.”

The privately-owned aircraft crashed in December while participating in the Hawaii Air National Guard sponsored training exercise Sentry Aloha. The pilot ejected before the crash and was rescued by the Coast Guard with the assistance of nearby good Samaritans.

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Coast Guard coordinates response to container ship fire over 1,000 miles northeast of Bermuda

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard continues coordinating response efforts to ensure the safety of the crew of a container ship approximately 1,015 miles northeast of Bermuda, Monday.

Saturday evening, 11 non-essential crew members were evacuated from the Yantian Express to the tugboat Smit Nicobar and Sunday morning all remaining crew were evacuated to the Smit Nicobar.

The Coast Guard is currently monitoring the situation. The Smit Nicobar remains on scene providing fire fighting assistance.

The commercial tugboat Maersk Mobiliser is also en route and approximately 80 miles northwest of the Yantian Express. Upon arrival, the tug's crew plans to tow the Yantian Express to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

"We’ve been monitoring the situation to provide as much assistance as possible and keeping in open communication" said Chief Petty Officer Ryan Langley, operations unit watchstander at the Fifth District command center. "It is through open and regular communication that the safety of the crew has been seen to and the response remains organized."

Coast Guard watchstanders with the First District command center in Boston received a report that there was a fire aboard the container ship Yantian Express, Thursday morning. They requested assistance through the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) for vessels that may be in the area and notified their counterparts in the Fifth District command center in Portsmouth who assumed responsibility for the case.

The AMVER vessel Happy Ranger's crew were 20 miles from the position and diverted their course to provide assistance. On Friday, the Smit Nicobar crew arrived on scene and began to provide assistance, relieving the Happy Ranger's crew.

For information on the AMVER program, visit http://www.amver.com

No injuries or pollution have been reported.

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Coast Guard, good Samaritans respond to Sincerity Ace fire

(U.S. Coast Guard video by HC-130 Hercules 1720/Released)

The Coast Guard coordinated with five volunteer vessels to rescue the crew over three days. Of the 21 crew, 16 were rescued, four were located unresponsive, and one remains missing.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew flies over the 650-foot Sincerity Ace on fire 1,800 nautical miles northwest of Oahu in the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 31, 2018, and drops supplies to the 944-foot bulk carrier Genco Augustus.

The vessel was still burning at last report Dec. 3, 2019, with two company contracted tugs en route.

The five commercial vessels participating in the search cut several days off the response time of surface assets. AMVER or Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System is a worldwide voluntary reporting system sponsored by the United States Coast Guard.

It is a computer-based global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea.

Responders faced 17 to 20-foot seas, white caps, and significant winds making spotting survivors and rescuing them very difficult.

(U.S. Coast Guard photos by HC-130 Hercules 1720/Released)

Inicial:

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard and good Samaritans aboard several commercial vessels are responding to a reported vessel fire on the 650-foot Sincerity Ace 1,800 nautical miles (2071 statute miles) northwest of Oahu on the high seas, Monday. 

“The distance involved here requires any and all available support, we thank the crews of the commercial vessels for volunteering to assist and have Coast Guard air support en route,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Les Elliott of JRCC Honolulu.

One commercial vessel, the Green Lake, is on scene and assessing possible assistance and rescue options, with three additional commercial vessels and a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew en route.

The Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Honolulu received notification from JRCC Japan at 1:04 a.m. of the situation. Watchstanders in Honolulu immediately issued a SafetyNet broadcast requesting the assistance of vessels in the area and directed the launch of the Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point.

The master of the Sincerity Ace reported a significant vessel fire, ongoing firefighting efforts, and an intent to abandon ship. The crew was able to launch one of the life rafts, and four of the 21 mariners abandoned ship with lifejackets. It is unconfirmed if they reached the life raft upon entering the water. The remaining 17 crew are reportedly continuing to fight the fire.

“We are thankful no injuries have been reported but are cognizant a lot is happening, and that may change at any time,” said Elliott.

Weather is reported as 17-foot seas with winds at 26 mph.

The Sincerity Ace is a Panamanian-flagged car carrier and was on a voyage from Japan to Hawaii. The Green Lake is a 655-foot U.S.-flagged car carrier traveling from Japan to the U.S. mainland. The second vessel is a Panamanian-flagged LNG tanker, the 968-foot SM Eagle on a voyage from the U.S. mainland to Korea.

Two additional vessels, a car carrier, and a tanker are en route. The Coast Guard is also launching a second Hercules from Air Station Barbers Point. Both Hercules airplanes are equipped with self locating datum marker buoys to track positions and additional search and rescue equipment such as life rafts and survival gear that can be dropped to survivors. In addition to the Coast Guard aircraft, the U.S. Navy will be providing a fixed wing aircraft to assist in search efforts. Other military surface and air assets are being considered.

The commercial vessels involved are part of the AMVER, or Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, a worldwide voluntary reporting system sponsored by the United States Coast Guard. It is a computer-based global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea.

Update 1:

HONOLULU — Coast Guard, Navy and good Samaritans aboard two merchant vessels continue the search Tuesday for two crew from the ship Sincerity Ace following a fire 1,800 nautical miles (2,071 statute miles) northwest of Oahu.

“We are thankful for the assistance the crews of these merchant vessels have given us during this event significantly reducing possible response time,” said Lt. Duane Zitta, Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu. “Their quick actions provided for the rescue of 16 members of the crew who would otherwise still be in the water and are continuing to aid us.”

Good Samaritans aboard four merchant vessels rescued 16 of the 21 crew Monday. Three of the five missing mariners reportedly were located but remain in the water as they are unresponsive and unable to grab onto life-saving equipment to be brought aboard. Search efforts are focused on the two remaining potential survivors in a search area of 5,832 square nautical miles (6711 square statute miles).

An Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew has re-deployed from Wake Island, following mandatory crew rest, to assist in the search and the crews of the Motor Vessel New Century 1 and Genco Augustus are actively searching the area. JRCC Honolulu watchstanders are continuing to identify merchant vessels in the area able to respond and assist. 

The merchant vessel crews and a Navy 7th Fleet P-8 Poseidon aircrew continued to search overnight for the unaccounted-for members. The crew of the Green Lake, the SM Eagle, and the Venus Spirit have resumed their voyages. 

Weather conditions on scene are reported as 15 to 18-foot seas and winds at 17 mph with reduced white caps improving visibility.

Involved in the search to date:

- Two Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrews
- A Navy 7th Fleet P-8 Poseidon aircrew
- Crew of the Motor Vessel Green Lake 
- Crew of the SM Eagle
- Crew of the Motor Vessel New Century 1
- Crew of the Motor Vessel Venus Spirit 
- Crew of the Motor Vessel Genco Augustus

The owners of the Sincerity Ace are coordinating with the merchant vessels for the transport of the rescued mariners. The vessel is currently adrift on the high seas. A salvage plan is being formalized and commercial tugs have been dispatched by the company.

JRCC Honolulu received the initial notification from JRCC Japan at 1:04 a.m., Monday, of the situation. Watchstanders in Honolulu immediately issued a SafetyNet broadcast requesting the assistance of vessels in the area and directed the launch of the Hercules aircrews from Air Station Barbers Point. The master of the Sincerity Ace reported a significant vessel fire, ongoing firefighting efforts, and an intent to abandon ship. 

The commercial vessels involved are part of the AMVER, or Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, a worldwide voluntary reporting system sponsored by the United States Coast Guard. It is a computer-based global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea.

Final:

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard has suspended the active search for the remaining unaccounted for crewmember of the Sincerity Ace, Wednesday.

“Following the conclusion of morning and afternoon searches by our aircraft and commercial vessels we suspended the active search. This is always a difficult decision and takes many factors into account,” said Chief Petty Officer Dennis Vetrano, with Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu. "We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of the crewmembers affected by this tragedy.”

Good Samaritans from four merchant vessels were able to rescue 16 of the 21 Sincerity Ace crew who abandoned ship following a fire, Monday. Four missing mariners were located but remain in the water as they were unresponsive and unable to react to life-saving equipment. Coast Guard watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast Notice to Mariners requesting vessels transiting the area to keep a sharp lookout for the remaining unaccounted for the crewmember. Searches were conducted throughout the day Wednesday by a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew and the crews of the motor vessels Venus Spirit and Genco Augustus.

The Sincerity Ace’s managing company, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., is coordinating with the merchant vessels for the transport of the surviving crew from the vessels' next ports of call. The company will make attempts to recover the four unresponsive crewmembers still in the water when other contracted ships arrive on the scene in several days. Commercial tugs were dispatched to the Sincerity Ace earlier in the week. The vessel remains uncrewed and adrift. At last report, it was listing to starboard and still on fire. The cause of the fire and the disposition of the cargo remain unknown. 

The Coast Guard, Navy, and good Samaritans aboard five merchant vessels conducted a total of 13 searches covering 5,544 nautical square miles (7,342 statute miles) over a span of three days.

Involved in the searches were:
- Two Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrews
- A Navy 7th Fleet P-8 Poseidon aircrew
- Crew of the Motor Vessel Green Lake 
- Crew of the SM Eagle
- Crew of the Motor Vessel New Century 1
- Crew of the Motor Vessel Venus Spirit 
- Crew of the Motor Vessel Genco Augustus

“We are very grateful for the assistance the crews of these vessels have given during the search and rescue efforts,” said Vetrano. “These crewmembers went out of their way to aid their fellow mariners, and because of the remoteness of the incident the outcome may have been very different had they not responded.”

JRCC Honolulu received the initial notification from JRCC Japan at 1:04 a.m., Monday, of the situation. Watchstanders in Honolulu immediately issued a SafetyNet broadcast requesting the assistance of vessels in the area and directed the launch of the Hercules aircrews from Air Station Barbers Point. The master of the Sincerity Ace reported a significant vessel fire, ongoing firefighting efforts, and an intent to abandon ship. 

Coast Guard 14th District watchstanders coordinated the rescue efforts with good Samaritans on the responding merchant vessels and the Coast Guard and Navy aircrews throughout the operation.

The commercial vessels involved are part of the AMVER, or Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, a worldwide voluntary reporting system sponsored by the United States Coast Guard. It is a computer-based global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea.

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Coast Guard searching for 2 people 46 miles east of Jupiter Inlet

HC-144 Ocean Sentry Air Station Miami ©USCG (archive)

MIAMI — The Coast Guard is searching for two missing people Monday 46 miles east of Jupiter Inlet.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Miami received a notification from a good Samaritan vessel stating they were on scene with nine people in the water from a capsized 18-foot vessel. The vessel reportedly capsized during a transit from Freeport, Bahamas to Miami Sunday evening with 11 people aboard.

Crews searching are:

• Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered (WPC-1103)
• Coast Guard Cutter Moray (WPB-87331)
• A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane

For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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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.

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