Coast Guard rescues 2 fishermen off Nash Island, Maine

BOSTON — The Coast Guard rescued two fishermen off Nash Island, Maine, Thursday, after their lobster boat became disabled when a swell pushed the vessel onto a rock causing them to swim to shore.
At 5:40 p.m., a concerned neighbor called watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Jonesport reporting that his neighbors went fishing at 11 a.m. in a 21-foot white lobster boat and were due back by 1 p.m., but they hadn't returned. He also reported that his friends only spoke French.
A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from launched from Station Jonesport, and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew launched from Air Station Cape Cod.
As the boat crew entered the vicinity of Eastern Harbor, they observed a red flare and investigated. Once on scene, the crew found a partially submerged white lobster boat and two men on Nash Island waving their arms and whistling. One of the fishermen held another flare.
Unable to get to the fishermen due to the rocky shallow water, the boat crew kept watch over the fishermen until the aircrew arrived. The aircrew landed on the island, and the fishermen were bought into the aircraft cabin.
The fishermen were brought back to Station Jonesport to awaiting their wives and Emergency Medical Services for evaluation.

U.S. Coast Guard coordinates rescue of 3 from sailboat 1,200 miles offshore Cape Cod

BOSTON – The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of three people Saturday after a Swedish-flagged, 32-foot sailing boat became disabled and demasted 1,200 miles east of Cape Cod.
An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) aboard the sailboat AELA alerted Coast Guard watchstanders to the distress. The watchstanders promptly directed Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, in North Carolina, to launch a C-130 Hercules long-range surveillance aircraft to ascertain the nature of distress and gain visual contact with the three stranded people.
Watchstanders also spoke with the father of two of the stranded men, who reported his last contact with his sons was Friday via email.
Through the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, an international distress notification system, mariners nearby AELA were alerted to the sailboat’s situation.
Three ships voluntarily participating in the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER), a computer-based global ship reporting system used to determine the position of AMVER ships near a distress location, also responded to assist, each with varying times of arrival for rescue.
A fourth ship, the Hong Kong-flagged chemical tanker Alpine Melina, responding to the distress notification, was vectored to AELA's position by the Coast Guard C-130 aircrew and recovered the three men from the disabled boat early Sunday. The three men are all reported to be in good condition.
The rescued men will stay aboard Alpine Melina until the ship’s next port of call in Mexico, where the survivors will embark flights home to Sweden.
AELA's intended voyage was from Nassau, Bahamas, to Bermuda, but bad weather forced the boat to attempt to sail to the Azores instead.

Coast Guard Searches For Woman Who Fell Off Cruise Ship

COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER 33 MILES SOUTHEAST OF KEY LARGO

MIAMI - The Coast Guard is searching Thursday for a man who went overboard from the Independence of the Seas cruise ship approximately 33 miles southeast of Key Largo.
Watch standers with the Coast Guard Sector Key West command center received notification from the Independence of the Seas crew at 1:49 a.m. Thursday that a 22-year-old man was reportedly seen going overboard from the 12th deck.
A Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew, a Station Islamorada boat crew and the Cutter Margaret Norvell crew are assisting in the search.

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COAST GUARD SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR WHISKEY ROSE OFF MAINE’S COAST

BOSTON — Coast Guard Sector Northern New England suspended the search for the Whiskey Rose Monday afternoon following an extensive search that turned up no substantial leads.
Four Coast Guard assets covered a total of 480 square miles during a search that lasted over 16 hours.
The original distress call from the Whiskey Rose was received at 7:40 p.m. Sunday via VHF-FM channel 16 by Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Northern New England. The person reported the name of their vessel and said they were taking on water. The transmission was lost prior to him passing his geographical location and there was no additional contact.
The search included a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor, the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, and both an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew from Air Station Cape Cod.
The Coast Guard is requesting anyone with additional information about Whiskey Rose or its crew to please call the Northern New England command center at 207-767-0302.

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COAST GUARD CONTINUES SEARCH FOR WHISKEY ROSE

AUDIO AVAILABLE: COAST GUARD CONTINUES SEARCH FOR WHISKEY ROSE OFF MAINE'S COAST

BOSTON — Coast Guard crews continue to search Monday for possible missing or distressed mariners following a broken distress hail to the Coast Guard Sunday night.

Someone aboard the Whiskey Rose sent a distress hail at 7:40 p.m. Sunday via VHF-FM channel 16 to Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Northern New England. The man reported the name of their vessel and said they were taking on water. The transmission was lost prior to him passing his geographical location and there has been no additional contact.

The following are the audio recordings of the Whiskey Rose's transmissions:

• AUDIO CLIP ONE
• AUDIO CLIP TWO
• AUDIO CLIP THREE

A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor and the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa are searching. Both an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew from Air Station Cape Cod also searched for the possible boaters in distress.

The Coast Guard is requesting anyone with additional information about Whiskey Rose or its crew to please call the Northern New England command center at 207-767-0302.

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COAST GUARD SEEKS INFORMATION ON BOAT WHISKEY ROSE FOLLOWING BROKEN HAIL FOR HELP OFF MAINE'S COAST

BOSTON — Coast Guard watchstanders are requesting the public's help Monday in locating possible missing or distressed mariners.

Someone aboard the sailing vessel Whiskey Rose sent a distress hail at 7:40 p.m. Sunday via VHF-FM channel 16 to Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Northern New England. The person reported the name of their vessel and said they were taking on water. The transmission was lost prior to him passing his geographical location and there has been no additional contact.

A line of bearing was received when the transmission was received placing the line across the Isle of Shoals.

A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth, the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, and both an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew from Air Station Cape Cod are searching for the possible boaters in distress.

The Coast Guard is requesting anyone with additional information about Whiskey Rose or its crew to please call the command center at 207-767-0302.

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COAST GUARD SUSPEND SEARCH FOR EL FARO CREW AFTER 7-DAY SEARCH

MIAMI — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for possible survivors from the cargo ship El Faro at sunset Wednesday, which is believed to have sunk during Hurricane Joaquin.

Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air National Guard and tugboat crews searched more than 183,000 square nautical miles off the Bahamian coast in a joint effort to locate the El Faro crew.

"I have come to a very difficult decision to suspend the search for the crew of the El Faro at sunset tonight. My deepest condolences go to the families, loved ones, and friends of the El Faro crew," said Rear Adm. Scott Buschman, commander, Coast Guard 7th District. "U.S. Coast Guard, U.S Navy, U.S. Air Force, and the Tote Maritime tug crews searched day and night, sometimes in perilous conditions with the hope of finding survivors in this tragic loss"

The El Faro, a 790-foot roll on, roll off cargo ship, was en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from Jacksonville, Florida. At approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Coast Guard watchstanders were notified the El Faro was disabled in the path of Hurricane Joaquin, had lost propulsion and had a 15-degree list. The crew reported the ship had previously taken on water, but that all flooding had been contained.

The Coast Guard located a deceased person in a survival suit in the water Sunday night. A heavily damaged life boat with markings consistent with those on board the El Faro were also located Sunday. Additional items located by search crews since Thursday include a partially submerged life raft, a survival suit, life jackets, life rings, cargo containers, Styrofoam, packaged food and an oil sheen.

Crew of the SS El Faro as provided by Tote Maritime:

Louis Champa	Palm Coast, Florida
Roosevelt Clark	Jacksonville, Florida
Sylvester Crawford Jr.	Lawrenceville, Georgia
Michael Davidson	Windham, Maine
Brookie Davis	Jacksonville, Florida
Keith Griffin	Fort Myers, Florida
Frank Hamm	Jacksonville, Florida
Joe Hargrove	Orange Park, Florida
Carey Hatch	Jacksonville, Florida
Michael Holland	North Wilton, Maine
Jack Jackson	Jacksonville, Florida
Jackie Jones, Jr.	Jacksonville, Florida
Lonnie Jordan	Jacksonville, Florida
Piotr Krause	Poland
Mitchell Kuflik	Brooklyn, New York
Roan Lightfoot	Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Jeffrey Mathias	Kingston, Massachusetts
Dylan Meklin	Rockland, Maine
Marcin Nita	Poland
Jan Podgorski	Poland
James Porter	Jacksonville, Florida
Richard Pusatere	Virginia Beach, Virginia
Theodore Quammie	Jacksonville, Florida
Danielle Randolph	Rockland, Massachusetts
Jeremie Riehm	Camden, Delaware
Lashawn Rivera	Jacksonville, Florida
Howard Schoenly	Cape Coral, Florida
Steven Shultz	Roan Mountain, Tennessee
German Solar-Cortes	Orlando, Florida
Anthony Thomas	Jacksonville, Florida
Andrzej Truszkowski	Poland
Mariette Wright	St. Augustine, Florida
Rafal Zdobych	Poland

The following search-and-rescue units and crews assisted with the search:

• Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida HC-130 Hercules airplane crews
• Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews
• Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina HC-130 Hercules airplane crews
• Coast Guard Cutter Northland, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia
• Coast Guard Cutter Resolute a 210-foot medium endurance cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida
• Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton, homeported in Key West, Florida
• Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
• Air National Guard HC-130 airplane crews from the 106th Rescue Wing, Westhampton Beach, New York
• Air Force WC-130 Super Hercules crews from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
• Navy P-8 Poseidon airplane crews from Naval Air Station Jacksonville
• Air Force E-8C Joint Stars crews from the 116th Air Control Wing, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia
• Three commercial tugboats

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COAST GUARD SEARCHING FOR MISSING CONTAINER SHIP With 5 Mainers Onboard.

MIAMI – Coast Guard crews continue searching for possible survivors from the cargo ship El Faro Monday, which is believed to have sunk during Hurricane Joaquin. 

While searching in the vicinity of the ship's last known position 35 nautical miles northeast of Crooked Islands, Bahamas, the Coast Guard located a deceased person in a survival suit in the water.

A heavily damaged life boat with markings consistent with those on board the El Faro was also located. Additional items located include a partially submerged life raft, life jackets, life rings, cargo containers and an oil sheen were located by Coast Guard aircrews within a 225 square nautical mile search area.

Multiple crews continue to search for survivors from the El Faro.  Assets involved in the search include:

• Two Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida
• Two Navy P-8 fixed wing airplanes
• One Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida
• Coast Guard Cutter Northland, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia
• Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida
• Coast Guard Cutter Charles Sexton, a 154-foot fast response cutter  homeported in Key West, Florida.
• Three commercial tugboats

Sea and weather conditions during today’s search include one-foot seas and 15 knots winds with unrestricted visibility.

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Mariner Safe and Continuing Journey After Surviving Pacific Storm

HONOLULU — A mariner aboard a 24-foot sailboat 944 miles from the main Hawaiian Islands is safe and continuing his voyage to San Francisco after surviving a gale-force storm in the Pacific.

The Coast Guard suspended the search Thursday for the sailing vessel Pier Pressure after communication was established with the owner, Rimas Meleshyus.

At 5:15 p.m., Meleshyus updated his coordinates and sent a text message via satellite device stating he was ok and did not need any assistance.

Watchstanders at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center received notification Thursday morning from a concerned friend that Meleshyus transmitted a text via satellite stating, “I lost my life raft, in danger now.”

Meleshyus departed Hilo, Hawaii, Feb. 9 on a solo voyage to San Francisco aboard his sailboat.

After unsuccessful attempts were made to establish communications with Meleshyus via cell phone, computer and satellite device, the Coast Guard launched a rescue mission in search of the distressed mariner.

An HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, the Coast Guard Cutter Kukui, homeported in Honolulu, and two Good Samaritan vessels were enroute to the sailboat’s last known position when Meleshyus established communication.

The Coast Guard advises all mariners to ensure they have all necessary safety equipment aboard and that it is in working condition before heading out on the water. This includes having appropriate safety and communications equipment such as lifejackets and a working VHF radio, checking local weather conditions and ensuring the vessel is seaworthy.

Mariners who want to ensure their vessel is safe and compliant with current regulations can request a free safety check by visiting www.vesselsafetycheck.org. For more information on boating safety, visit www.uscgboating.org.

Man and boy located adrift after being swept out to sea in South Pacific

APRA HARBOR, Guam — A man and a young boy are safe after their 14-foot skiff was swept out to sea near an atoll in the South Pacific Sunday.

At 9:41 a.m. Monday, watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Guam Command Center received a report from Pan-Pacific Education and Communication Experiments by Satellite of a skiff that had been swept out to sea due to high tide and poor weather near Namoluk Atoll, Chuuk. They reportedly had paddles, no motor and minimal food aboard the vessel.

Sector Guam made notifications to Federated States of Micronesia Maritime Surveillance Advisor, FSM National Search and Rescue Coordinator, Chuuk Search and Rescue Liaison, U.S. Embassy in Pohnpei and the 14th Coast Guard District Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu.

Sector Guam identified and diverted two Automated-Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System vessels in the area.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Barbers Point on Oahu and a Navy P-8A Poseidon fixed-wing aircraft from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, were also launched to assist in the search.

The Ocean Pegasus, a 656-foot freight ship, and the 575-foot freight ship Verdant Island responded to the call for help and diverted at the request of the Coast Guard to assist in the search.

Tuesday morning the Ocean Pegasus located and safely rescued the 44-year-old man and nine-year-old boy. They remain aboard the Ocean Pagasus.

AMVER, sponsored by the United States Coast Guard, is a unique, computer-based, and voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea.

The 14th Coast Guard District encompasses an area of 12.2 million square miles of the Central and South Pacific. Coast Guard aircraft based in Hawaii frequently travel thousands of miles in response to search and rescue and other calls for assistance.The Hercules is scheduled to be replaced by the HC-130J, which will bring increased capabilities to Coast Guard response across the Pacific.

Coast Guard suspends search for vessel taking on water near Mount Desert Rock, Maine

BOSTON — The Coast Guard has suspended its active search at 5:28 p.m. Monday for a 55-foot fishing vessel reportedly taking on water with two people aboard in the vicinity of Mount Desert Rock, Maine.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England received a report via VHF channel 16 of a vessel reportedly taking on water nine miles northeast of Mount Desert Rock, Maine at 6:41 p.m. Sunday.

The search covered an area of nearly 2,000 square miles and included shoreline searches of surrounding islands.

Searching were crews from:

Coast Guard Station Southwest Harbor, Maine,
Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass.
Coast Guard Cutter Jefferson Island
Maine Marine Patrol

Coast Guard crews searching for vessel taking on water near Mount Desert Rock, Maine

Boston, Massachusetts - U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews are still searching Monday morning for two people aboard a 55-foot fishing vessel approximately nine miles northeast of Mount Desert Rock.

The Coast Guard was alerted by VHF radio at about 6:41 p.m. Sunday that a 55-foot fishing vessel was taking on water with two people aboard, according to a press release from the Coast Guard. Officials did not release information about the boat, its crew or where it originated.

A rescue crew from the Coast Guard Station Southwest Harbor was launched on a 47-foot motor life boat to search for the fishermen and vessel. The Coast Guard Cutter Jefferson Island also was diverted to assist with the search and Air Station Cape Cod. Mass. launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and a C-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew.

Crews were still searching Monday morning and no new information was available, according to an officer who answered the phone at the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command center in South Portland.

Anyone with information is urged to call the command center at 207-767-0303.

BREAKING NEWS: Vessel Taking On Water Off Nettle Island

Rockland - The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel near Nettle Island off South Thomaston.  The vessel Captiva reported it was taking on water about 15 minutes ago.  The Coast Guard has dispatched vessels to assist.

Coast Guard searching for overboard fisherman in Southern Maine

BOSTON — The Coast Guard is searching for a fisherman who went missing near Perkins Cove in Southern Maine, Thursday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England recieved notification at 11:55 p.m. Thursday, that two fishermen were swimming off of the 42-foot fishing vessel Clover near Perkins Cove, Maine, but only one man was able to climb back aboard. The Clover crew was unable to pull the fisherman aboard and later could not locate him.

Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor launched a crew with a rescue boat. The Coast Guard Cutter Shearwater was diverted to assist. Air Station Cape Cod launched a MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter. Wells, Maine, Fire and Rescue crews are also assisting in the search.

"We have multiple assets from the Coast Guard and local agencies in the search," said Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Kiener, an operations watchstander at Sector Northern New England.

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UPDATE: Coast Guard Locates Overdue Maine Sailor 70 Miles South Of Long Island

BOSTON — The Coast Guard found Stephen Crane, who was reported overdue Thursday, aboard his 31-foot sailboat Austina, 70 miles south of Long Island, N.Y. Friday at 7 a.m.

A Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod HC-144A Ocean Sentry crew located the vessel and confirmed with Crane that he was not in distress and did not need assistance.

Crane, 61, was sailing from Portland ME, to Fernidina, Fla., when his sister contacted Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Fla. watchstanders at approximately 1 p.m. Thursday, reporting that Crane did not arrive in Cape Hatteras, N.C., as expected Thursday.

Crews from Coast Guard Air Stations Cape Cod and Elizabeth City conducted aerial first-light searches across the 1st District and 5th District span.

Coast Guard Searching For Overdue Boater Sailing From Maine to Florida

BOSTON — The Coast Guard is searching for an overdue boater Thursday aboard the Austina, a 31-foot sailboat, who's sole crewmember departed Portland, Maine Aug. 1, enroute to Fernidina, Fla.

Missing is Stephen Crane, 61.

Crane's sister contacted Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Fla. watchstanders at approximately 1 p.m., who relayed the information to Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders reporting the Austina did not arrive in Cape Hatteras, N.C., as expected Thursday.

Crane last reported his position Sunday, saying he was rounding Cape Cod, Mass.

Coast Guard Sectors Delaware Bay, in Philadelphia, Penn., Baltimore, Md., Hampton Roads, Va., and North Carolina are conducting call outs in an attempt to establish communications with the Austina.

Crews from Coast Guard Air Stations Cape Cod and Elizabeth City are scheduled to conduct aerial first-light searches tomorrow across the 1st District and 5th District span.

The Austina is a white, 31-foot Southern Cross sailboat.

Anyone with information of Crane's where abouts or the sailing vessel Austina are asked to contact the 1st District Command Center watchstanders at 617-223-8555 or the Coast Guard via VHF Channel 16.

Coast Guard, local responders searching for missing man after collision on Sabine Lake

(U.S Coast Guard Photo)

HOUSTON — The Coast Guard, Port Arthur Fire Department and Jefferson County Sheriff's Department are searching for a 56-year-old man after a collision occurred between the tug and barge Father Seelos and the missing man's pleasure craft about 500 feet west of Goat Island in Sabine Lake, Sunday.

Missing is John Tran of Bridge City, Texas.

The captain of tug Father Seelos contacted Vessel Traffic Service Port Arthur at approximately 2:30 p.m. notifying them of the collision.

Coast Guard crewmembers are currently searching for the man aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Houston, and Station Sabine Pass's 25-foot Response Boat — Small and 24-foot Special Purpose Craft — Shallow Water. The Port Arthur Fire Department dive team and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Marine Division are also searching.

“We’re utilizing all efforts possible to locate the missing person,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Joshua Tidey, an operations specialist at Sector Houston-Galveston.  “We currently have two surfaces assets, an air asset, and two partner agencies conducting search and rescue operations.”

Busy Memorial Day Weekend

HOUSTON — A large influx of swimmers and boaters led to multiple search and rescue cases for Coast Guard crews and Houston-area response agencies this Memorial Day weekend.

In total, 10 search and rescue cases were logged from Friday to Monday, which tragically included four drownings. A summary of some of the efforts are:

Sector Houston/Galveston command center staff managed 10 search and rescue cases and 11 marine safety cases
Air Station Houston helicopter crews conducted more than 33 search-and-rescue flight hours
Station Freeport crewmembers conducted more than 27 search-and-rescue hours
Station Sabine towed a mariner’s disabled vessel to safety after they drifted too close to rocks near North Levy Road in Sabine Lake.
"In a two-day span the Coast Guard responded to four drowning deaths," said Lt. Spencer Roach, a command duty officer at Sector Houston/Galveston. “It is truly heartbreaking to see these patterns repeated every holiday weekend and underscores the need for constant vigilance while around the water. The Coast Guard operates the most sophisticated and accurate search-planning technology available, but even the best searches can't help you if you lack the basic safety gear such as life jackets, which will help you survive until we get there."

Many maritime incidents and deaths are preventable and with boating season well underway, the Coast Guard urges all boaters and mariners to do the following before heading out on the water:

Wear a life jacket at all times
File a float plan with family members or friends letting them know where you are headed and when you plan to be back
Check the weather prior to departing the dock
Have a marine band radio and visual distress signals on board
Have a registered 406MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Have a Personal Locator Beacon
Do not boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Beach goers should follow additional precautions before entering the water. Don't swim alone and always swim where lifeguards are present. Pay close attention to and heed beach warning flags and signs.

For more information on beach safety, check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's site on rip currents at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

For more information on boating safety please visit the Coast Guard's boating safety website at www.uscgboating.org.