Busy day for CG rescues

[Saltwater Fishing]

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Coast Guard, along with multiple international, federal, state and local agencies, assisted 545 people and saved five lives during the “unofficial” Port Huron, Mich., Float Down, between 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., August 15, 2010.

In addition to the lives saved and people assisted, responders provided two medical transports, issued two district court violations and kept seven commercial vessels from entering the safety zone established to protect those participating in the Float Down.

“Without the tremendous interagency efforts by international, federal, local and state agencies, there would have been many lives lost today during the Port Huron Float Down,” said Capt. Jeff Ogden, Commanding Officer at Coast Guard Sector Detroit.

Assets and personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, City of Marysville Police and Fire Departments, City of Port Huron Police and Fire Departments, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, Ira Township Fire Department, the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Ontario Provincial Police participated in the operation.

A total of 30 vessels were on scene during the Float Down.

Tri Hospitals provided Emergency Medical Services during the event.

The Coast Guard works closely with other international, federal, state and local agencies to provide its life-saving services to those recreating on the Great Lakes.

http://coastguardnews.com/545-people...wn/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

CORPUS CHRISTI – The Coast Guard along with Miller Environmental Services Inc., and Texas Parks and Wildlife Investigations are cooperatively working to secure the scene of a fire that occurred at the Hamptons Landing and Marina, Sunday.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Station Port Aransas originally received a call from the Aransas Pass Fire Department at approximately 5:56 a.m. reporting that multiple boats and houseboats along the waterfront at the Hamptons Landing and Marina were on fire. The Coast Guard launched both a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium and crew from Station Port Aransas, and an Air Station Corpus Christi HH-65C Dolphin helicopter and crew to assist on scene. A Coast Guard pollution investigator was sent to the scene to monitor any potential environmental impact. The Ingleside, Rockport and Aransas Pass Fire Departments were also called to the scene.

The Hamptons Landing and Marina hired Miller Environmental Services Inc. to assist with clean up efforts. The pollution response crews set out boom around the burned area to secure the minor sheen Sunday morning. They also employed divers to assess the amount of fuel left on the damaged boats.

The Coast Guard continues to monitor the clean-up.

“It is our goal to make sure all the pollution in the water is contained and cleaned,” said Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Eckard, a Coast Guard marine investigator.

While the Coast Guard monitors the overall containment effort, Texas Parks and Wildlife Investigations will investigate the cause of the fire. The safety zone around the area has been lifted by the Coast Guard. However, the marina will be secured to preserve evidence until the investigation is complete.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...na/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

CORPUS CHRISTI – The Coast Guard along with Texas Parks and Wildlife rescued a fisherman in Espirito Santo Bay near Port O’Connor, Saturday.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a call on VHF Channel 16 at approximately 10 p.m. from the crew member of a wade fishing boat reporting they had returned to the docks but were missing a fisherman. An Air Station Corpus Christi HH-65C Dolphin helicopter and crew was launched to the vicinity of the boat’s last reported position. The Dolphin crew successfully located the fisherman in the area where the boat crew last saw him. A Texas Parks and Wildlife boat crew was called in to assist the Coast Guard and transported the man back to land.

The man was found to be in good condition.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...ay/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

HOUSTON – Coast Guard Air Station Houston medevaced a diver approximately 120 miles off the Galveston coast, Sunday.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston received a call at approximately 11 a.m. via VHF marine radio from a person aboard the 36-foot pleasure craft Southern Cross requesting immediate assistance. The reporting source stated that the vessel and four people aboard were on a diving excursion when one of the divers had to make a rapid ascent. As a result, the diver, a 45-year old female required immediate medical assistance.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-65C Dolphin helicopter and crew from Air Station Houston and an HH-65C Dolphin helicopter and crew from Air Station Corpus Christi. The Dolphin crew from Air Station Houston arrived on scene first and hoisted the woman into the cabin of the helicopter and transported her to Mainland Hospital in Texas City.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Holbrook, operations specialist and watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston attributes the working VHF marine radio onboard the Southern Cross to saving the woman’s life.

“Without having a working VHF marine radio onboard, we would not have been able to help them because they were so far offshore. That radio literally saved her life,” said Hollbrook.

The condition of the woman is unknown.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...st/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

KEY WEST — The Coast Guard responded to a downed airplane about 40 miles north of Key West Saturday night.

This is Coast Guard Sector Key West’s second downed aircraft response in two days. The first response was Friday night in the vicinity of Cow Key Channel.

The Coast Guard was notified of the second downed aircraft after 9 p.m. Saturday. The downed aircraft, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, was en route to Key West from Bartow, Fla.

Immediately upon notification, the Coast Guard launched an Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, an Air Station Miami HU-25 Falcon jet crew, a Coast Guard Station Key West 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew, and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB).

The crew of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Thomas Jefferson heard the issued UMIB, ceased its surveying duties approximately 30 miles from the downed aircraft, and made way toward the search area to assist. Shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, lookouts on Thomas Jefferson located the pilot–the only passenger aboard the downed aircraft.

“Thomas Jefferson’s crew found the pilot swimming alone, having drifted about two miles from the reported crash site,” said NOAA Cmdr. Shepard M. Smith, the commanding officer of the Thomas Jefferson. “We initially heard his voice calling for help, and then saw him in our searchlights waving the white checkoff list he had found after the crash. We are very pleased to have been able to help avert a real tragedy.”

The Thomas Jefferson crew recovered the pilot, rendered medical assistance, and transferred the pilot to the Station Key West 45-foot Response Boat-Medium for transport to EMS personnel waiting ashore.

“We applaud the initiative taken by the Thomas Jefferson crew and appreciate their expertise and professionalism demonstrated on scene,” said Capt. Pat DeQuattro, commander, Coast Guard Sector Key West.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...or/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

BOSTON- The Coast Guard transported a 49-year old female to shore where local EMS took her to Addison Gilbert Hospital

The 49-year old experienced difficulty breathing after a dive off the motor vessel Cape Ann Diver II just outside the Dog Bar near Gloucester, Mass.

Coast Guard Station Gloucester launched with local EMS at 9:30 Sunday morning, and brought her back to shore.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...ss/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

BOSTON- The Coast Guard has located the man they have been searching for since around 7 p.m. yesterday evening. The man was found unresponsive four miles northeast of Point Allerton, Mass., at around 11:25 a.m., and was taken by rescue crews to Coast Guard Station Point Allerton, were Massachusetts State Police were standing by to assist.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...ve/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

BALTIMORE – The Coast Guard has suspended its search Sunday, for a man missing in the Elk River near Elk Neck Creek Park, Md., following a boat allision with a buoy Saturday.

Coast Guard crews searched for a total of nine hours in 15 square nautical miles.

Rescue boatcrews from Coast Guard Station Stillpond, Md., Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay, Md., Cecil County and Maryland Natural Resources Police along with helicopter crews from Maryland State Police and Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., began searching the area after the initial call at 9:43 p.m.

The search was suspended at 9:51 a.m., Sunday pending further developments.

The Coast Guard urges mariners to stay safe while out on the water. Remember to wear approved lifejackets at all times, maintain situational awareness and have an operating marine-band radio aboard your vessel in order to notify rescuers in the event of an emergency.

The cause of accident is currently under investigation.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...md/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

BALTIMORE – Coast Guard and local agencies are searching for a man missing after a vessel with two passengers allided with a buoy in the Elk River near Elk Neck State Park, Md., Saturday night.

Coast Guard Sector Baltimore watchstanders received a call at 9:43 p.m. Saturday, reporting that a pleasure craft had allided with buoy 19 and was taking on water with one person unaccounted for and another onboard with injuries.

Rescue boatcrews from Coast Guard Stations Stillpond, Md., Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay, Md., Cecil County and Maryland Natural Resources Police along with helicopter crews from Maryland State Police and Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., responded to the incident.

The injured man was met by rescue personnel from Cecil County and then medevaced to Baltimore Shock Trauma by Trooper 1 of the Maryland State Police.

A rescue boatcrew from Station Curtis Bay continued searching throughout the night.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...ay/2010/08/15/

[Saltwater Fishing]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.—The Coast Guard medevaced a 30-year-old male 70 nautical miles off of Atlantic City Saturday.

The Coast Guard received a call at 7 p.m. from a crewmember aboard the

fishing vessel The Ranger reporting a crewmember with diabetes had a seizure and was out of insulin.

A Coast Guard rescue crew from Air Station Atlantic City arrived on scene and medevaced the man. The man was transported to awaiting medical personnel at the air station.

The man denied medical attention and departed the air station.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guar...-j/2010/08/15/