Coast Guard Rescue

Published on: April 15, 2025

Three Rescued after Scallop Boat Capsizes

On April 11, 2025, a commercial scallop boat capsized near Green Island in Boston Harbor. A swift rescue and a coordinated environmental response began after the vessel started leaking fuel into area waters.

At 7:46 a.m., watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston received a broken radio transmission from the F/V EILEEN RITA, a 90-foot vessel homeported in New Bedford, Massachusetts. They soon established communication with the captain, who confirmed the vessel had run aground on rocks near Green Island and was taking on water. The vessel began listing onto its side, prompting the three crew members to don survival suits and climb onto the gunwale, approximately 15 feet above the waterline while awaiting rescue.

Body camera footage released by police shows the crewmembers sliding down the side of the listing vessel and boarding a Boston Police boat. They were later evaluated by Boston EMS.

Published on: April 1, 2025

Air Station Sitka Helicopter Crew Rescues Woman from F/V Nekton

by Nigel Stacey

On March 26, 2025, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka successfully conducted a medevac of a 37-year-old woman experiencing a medical emergency in Sitka Sound, Alaska. The woman, who was aboard the fishing vessel NEKTON, required immediate medical attention.

The aircrew responded swiftly to the distress call. After arriving on the scene, they skillfully maneuvered the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter above the fishing vessel to safely execute the hoist operation. Despite challenges posed by the weather and the vessel’s movements, the U.S. Coast Guard team efficiently transported the patient aboard the aircraft.

Following the successful hoist, the helicopter crew transferred the woman to awaiting local emergency medical personnel in Sitka. The patient received further evaluation and care upon arrival, highlighting the seamless collaboration between the U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency responders.

Published on: January 21, 2025

Fishing Vessel Tanusha Capsizes Near Kodiak

by Nigel Stacey

Watchstanders at the 17th Coast Guard District Command Center received a distress alert from the fishing vessel emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at 9:48 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15^th from the F/V TANUSHA near Kodiak.

A helicopter aircrew was launched from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak and requested assistance from the Alaska State Troopers. The watchstanders also made attempts to contact vessels near the location of the distress signal via radio, but the two crewmembers abandoned ship after the F/V TANUSHA began taking on water approximately 23 miles southeast of Kodiak.

Crewmembers aboard the F/V VICTORY received the request for assistance and navigated toward the last known location of the distressed vessel and found the two fishermen in a life raft. The F/V TANUSHA had capsized.

Published on: October 29, 2024

Coast Guard Medevacs ill Crewmember from F/V Pacific Dragon II

by Nigel Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector Honolulu command center received a medevac request at 4:57 p.m. on Monday, October 21, 2024, after notification that a 35-year-old crew member was experiencing severe abdominal pain. The F/V PACIFIC DRAGON II, was located approximately 78 miles northeast of Kahului, Maui at the time of the call.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point was dispatched to locate the vessel and evacuate the distressed fisherman. The helicopter reached the scene at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 22^nd, 2024, and transported the crewmember to Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku.

“Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac,” said a released statement, underscoring the urgency of the medical situation.

Published on: October 22, 2024

Coast Guard Rescues 5 from Tug Luther After Loss of Steering

by Joseph Stacey

A dramatic maritime rescue took place off the coast of La Push, Washington, on Friday, October 18^th, 2024, as U.S. Coast Guard and commercial tug crews worked urgently to prevent the 130-foot tug LUTHER from running aground after it lost steering in stormy seas.

At approximately 4:10 p.m. the tug LUTHER was towing a loaded cement barge when the vessel suffered a steering malfunction 10 miles offshore. The crew immediately sent a distress call to the U.S. Coast Guard.

“We’re getting our butts kicked,” the LUTHER captain can be heard saying over the radio as crews fought to save the vessel amid the harsh conditions. Readers can listen to the distress call at U.S. Coast Guard.

Published on: September 3, 2024

Six Fishermen Saved by Personal Locator Beacon

by Nigel Stacey

A group of fishermen stranded in the remote Western Pacific were recently rescued, thanks in large part to a personal locator beacon they had with them, according to a U.S. Coast Guard search coordinator.

According to a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, the six fishermen became stranded about 30 miles north of Satawal Atoll in the Caroline Islands when their engine failed at approximately 9 a.m. on August 17, 2024. The fishermen activated a personal locator beacon (PLB), sending a distress signal that transmitted their location to the Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam, over 430 miles away.

The distress signal was relayed to the USCGC OLIVER HENRY, which was on patrol approximately 270 miles northeast of the fishermen, as well as the Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel ZHONG YU MARINE, a 97-meter cargo vessel located about 160 miles north of the stranded boat. Despite challenging conditions, including the remote location, thunderstorms, and low visibility, both ships reached the search area by 3 a.m. on August 18, 2024. The distressed fishing vessel was located, then towed to a nearby atoll.

Published on: August 25, 2024

Fisherman Sustains Severe Burns on the F/V Mariah K

by Nigel Stacey

On August 20, 2024, a fishing vessel caught fire about 50 miles off the coast of Brookings, Oregon. The MARIAH K was carrying three fishermen at the time of the blaze. Crew member Emanuel Silveira is currently in critical condition after suffering severe burns.

According to Petty Officer Briana Carter of the U.S. Coast Guard 13th District, the fire was reported by the nearby sportfishing vessel, ELI’S TIDE at approximately 8 p.m. The crew of ELI’S TIDE also assisted with rescue efforts.

The three fishermen jumped overboard and were rescued by a 47-foot motor lifeboat from the Chetco River Coast Guard Station. One rescued crewmember required a medevac by the Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay aircrew, and all three were transported to UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital in San Francisco. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Published on: August 13, 2024

U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 6 After Mayday Call from Burning Fishing Vessel

by Joseph Stacey

On Sunday August 11^th, 2024, at 8:56 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command center watchstanders received a mayday call from the F/V THREE GIRLS stating that the vessel was on fire, and all aboard were preparing to abandon ship. The vessel was located about 105 nautical miles east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire at the time of the incident.

The First Coast Guard District command center also received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert from the vessel. The trawler was carrying six people, including a NOAA fishery observer.

At 9 p.m., Sector Northern New England diverted the USCGC William Chadwick, a fast response cutter, to respond. An MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew and a HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod was also launched in an effort to provide aerial support.

Published on: November 21, 2023

Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes in Alaska

by Joseph Stacey

Four Coast Guard personnel sustained injuries following the crash of their MH-60 Jayhawk during a search and rescue mission in Alaska. The Air Station Sitka based helicopter crashed on Read Island, just south of Juneau.

At approximately 8 p.m. on Monday, November 13^th the F/V LYDIA MARIE began taking on water amidst the rough seas of Frederick Sound. A distress signal was promptly transmitted by the ship’s captain to the U.S. Coast Guard, and the vessel navigated towards the sheltered northern coast of Read Island in Farragut Bay while awaiting assistance.

According to reports, the initial responders to Monday night’s Air Station Sitka helicopter crash were the crew members from the distressed fishing vessel the U.S. Coast Guard was dispatched to assist. Two brothers aboard the F/V LYDIA MARIE reportedly played a pivotal part in rescuing the stranded air crew after hearing the crash.

Published on: October 31, 2023

Mariner Lost at Sea Nearly 2 Weeks Found Alive

by Nigel Stacey

One of the two fishermen who disappeared nearly two weeks ago along the Washington coast has been found alive, floating in a life raft just west of Vancouver Island. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian family members spotted then rescued the man approximately 70 miles northwest of Cape Flattery on Thursday, October 26th, 2023.

Ryan Planes and his uncle, John, were preparing their fishing equipment on the shores of Vancouver Island when they noticed a small life raft drifting nearby. The individual in the raft had exhausted his supplies of food and water and had fired his final flare to alert them.

Ryan Planes and his uncle promptly rescued and transported the mariner to the Canadian Coast Guard for assistance.