Rescued Sailors off Hawaiian Islands

Captains, You gotta like this story because the kid from Galesburg and his friend survive. They called someone ashore before it was too late, saved the last flare until they knew the helo would see it, and trusted the rescue swimmer. Too bad they didn't wait for a better day to go sailing in a 24 foot boat. The Sector Honolulu SAR planner sums it up pretty well. "Those two guys were fortunate." RDML W

Galesburg man saved at sea

SOURCE: WQAD, 30Nov09

GALESBURG, Illinois - Luke has always loved the ocean. But, his passion almost cost him his life.

He's surfed and snorkeled but in his 25 years, he's never sailed until last Sunday. His friend, Alfredo, asked Luke if he wanted to sail with him to take a boat back to it's owner - a 30 hour trip between the islands of Hawaii.

They set sail early Sunday morning. On Monday morning, Luke called his fiancée, Allyson, to let her know they ran into some rough waters and won't be arriving when they said and to call his parents, Jim and Beth. That night, Luke and Alfredo were facing waves up to 20 feet high. "It's the channel between Maui and the big island. It’s supposed to be the one of the most dangerous crossings on any of the oceans," explained Jim. Luke confirmed it was. "When we hit the channel, our rudder snapped off the back of the boat so we had no steering. That's when we knew we were in trouble," said Luke.

Moments later, the sailboat capsized. The men lost their cell phones and handheld radio. Alfredo rigged up some lights to put at the end of the mast to send SOS signals. They managed to save 3 of the 20 flares that was on board and shot off 2 of them when they saw a ship pass nearby, but it didn't stop.

Luke's parents were trying to call him all day on Monday. Then, decided to call the Coast Guard that night. Luke and Alfredo spotted the rescue plane. "It went by the first time and already past us. So he (Alfredo) held onto the flare. He knew how they fly the search pattern and know it'd be back in 20 minutes." They shot off their last flare.

“When we arrived on scene the two sails masts were in the water and the boat was swaying violently in the water,” said Lt. j.g. Jason Gross, an HH-65 rescue helicopter pilot.

“After we lowered a rescue swimmer onto the vessel, we determined the best course of action would be to have the two men swim away from the boat and then we lowered a basket into the water and hoisted them from there.”

“This one could have turned out much differently,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Soule, a search and rescue planner with Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. “We received tremendous cooperation from the DLNR, Navy and Hawaii County officials and were able to cover a huge area and those two guys were fortunate.”

At 8:54 Tuesday night, the Harmons got a call from the National Guard saying their son and his friend had been found and are fine. They had to lower a diver into the water for the rescue because the waters were too rough.

After this near-death experience, Luke's passion for the ocean hasn't changed. "I'll probably do it again," Luke said. Then, he laughed and added, "But, I don't think I'll cross that channel on a 24 foot sailboat again'.

America's Waterway Watch and the Citizen's Action Networks

Captains, Maritime homeland security is everyone's responsibility. The U.S. Coast Guard 8th District based in New Orleans recently began a new waterway "neighborhood watch" program. Volunteers sign up with the program on the Web at http://www.d8cr.org/CAN through an application process. It's called the "Citizens Action Network" or CAN. Modeled after a similar successful program in the Pacific Northwest, CAN volunteers agree to be the eyes and ears of the Coast Guard along a particular stretch of a waterway. Go to http://www.uscg.mil/D13/can for CAN info if you live in the Pacific Northwest. The only criteria is a phone and a view of the waterway from your business or home. If accepted into the program, a person or business agrees to be a point of contact. These programs are great local implementation of the national America's Waterway Watch program (http://www.americaswaterwaywatch.org/). MERICA'S WATERWAY WATCH Report Suspicious Activity... call the National Response Center 877-24WATCH RDML W

USCG Arctic Operations

Captains,

One of the topics Admiral Allen mentioned in his IMO General Assembly speech is "climate change". Climate change could impact seafarers in a variety of ways. In the Arctic, for example, where there was only ice, now there are seasonal open seas. Fishing, cruising, oil exploration, global shipping, military operations, and Coast Guard services are now being conducted in the Arctic. I delivered the following presentation on Coast Guard operations in the Arctic.

RDML W

USA maritime leadership continues in London at IMO

Excerpts from Adm Allen's speech at the General Assembly this week:

U.S. Delegation to the International Maritime Organization

I am Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

Since our inclusion as an IMO member state, the United States has made significant contributions to advance IMO?s objectives of marine safety, security, and environmental protection and we will continue to do so. We are committed because the marine transportation system is an absolutely essential link in the global supply chain.

We are a maritime nation. My service, the U.S. Coast Guard, was founded to provide maritime safety, security, and environmental stewardship for a fledgling nation. We quickly learned that our values, economy, and security were tied to the oceans and waterways that funneled into our ports. Those ports, over 360 of them today, have become essential hubs in the global marketplace.

As a flag state, port state, and coastal state, the United States satisfies the requirements for election under Category ?A?. We are a leader in providing international shipping services. In addition to the U.S. flag fleet, the United States is one of the top five ship owning countries in the world. We have some of the world?s busiest ports and rank second in terms of overall port calls by the world?s ships.

We continue to work at IMO with the international community to address the most pressing issues of the day including air emissions from ships, climate change, piracy in waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden where United States forces have demonstrated resolve to address this threat, and goal-based standards for new ship construction.

After the tragic terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11th, 2001, we engaged the IMO to develop the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. This Code has led to the broad international effort to increase global shipping security. To improve maritime awareness for vessel safety and security, we are voluntarily hosting the international data exchange for the long-range identification and tracking system.

We regularly send highly qualified delegations to IMO meetings and several U.S. personnel have held leadership positions within IMO committees. American subject matter experts assisted in the meetings that produced the Djibouti Code of Conduct and the U. S. Coast Guard also posts a permanent officer at the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden, where I have personally delivered a graduation address.z

Recognizing our financial obligations, the United States has remained current on its payments of assessed contributions and made voluntary offerings to various IMO projects. Over the past five years, we provided $1.4 million in funding for the International Maritime Security Trust fund. We provide support and training expertise to help developing countries safeguard their own maritime interests and contribute to international governance.

As a member of the Council, the United States has been a strong advocate for an efficient and forward looking IMO. We will continue to support transparency in all financial and regulatory matters, accountability by adhering to internal and external audits, and the highest ethical standards.

Within the United States, President Obama recently acknowledged just how vital the oceans are to our way of life when he formed the Ocean Policy Task Force. This multi-agency group is creating a governance framework to responsibly manage competing oceanic interests.

When I testified before the United States Senate, I stressed the need to align the Task Force?s domestic policies with the international community. We appreciate that the oceans are indeed the last global commons. We share those waters with all of you and many of the challenges we face extend beyond the reach of individual nations. To facilitate trade and mitigate threats, the global community must work together.

We are committed to working within the IMO framework and with all of the member nations to meet these challenges. This is our obligation so we can leave a better world for our children to inherit.

Boat and 8 people saved in this flooding case off NJ

Captains,

In this case, 8 people were at risk due to a faulty raw water connection in the engine room. On a clear day off the NJ coast, CG crews on rescue boats saved the people and the boat.

ASBURY PARK, N.J. - The Coast Guard rescued eight people Saturday after the 30-foot boat they were aboard was taking on water near Asbury Park. The Coast Guard received a call at 10:50 a.m. from a crewmember aboard the Erin Elizabeth reporting they were taking on water and needed assistance. A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Shark River, N.J., arrived on scene and transferred all eight people aboard their boat. A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Manasquan, N.J., arrived on scene and transferred the eight people aboard their boat. The rescue boat crew from Station Shark River located the source of the flooding, which was coming from a raw water hose and leaking into the engine room and secured the leak. The rescue boat crew from Station Manasquan transported the eight people with the Erin Elizabeth in tow to Hoffman's Marina in Brielle, N.J.

Caught in the surf, then flooding dooms the FIREFLY off Morro Bay CA

Captains, The skipper of the FIREFLY is lucky to be alive this Thanksgiving. Make sure your through-hull fittings are intact, especially if you plan to cross the bar alone at midnight. The Coast Guard was called in time for this case, but YOU don't want to have a night like this on your vessel.

MORRO BAY, Calif - The Coast Guard rescued a mariner from a 56-foot recreational boat that sank approximately one and three-quarter miles southwest of the entrance to Morro Bay Harbor just before midnight on Wednesday, November 25th. Coast Guard Station Morro Bay responded with a 47-foot motor life boat to a report that the vessel Firefly was caught in the surf zone off Cayucos, Calif. Morro Bay Harbor Patrol also responded. The mariner maneuvered the vessel out of the surf zone and was heading south to Morro Bay Harbor. The Coast Guard crew located the vessel and commenced an escort to Morro Bay Harbor. During the transit the vessel became disabled with approximately 3-4 feet of water in the engine room. A second motor life boat from Station Morro Bay was launched to further assist. Coast Guardsmen from the motor life boats attempted to dewater the vessel, but it continued to take on water at a greater rate than the pumps could handle. When the vessel was listing hard to starboard and only about 2 inches of freeboard remained, the decision to evacuate the vessel was made. The vessel quickly sank in approximately 150 feet of water. Floating debris from the vessel was retrieved by the Coast Guard and Harbor Patrol. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Santa Barbara is investigating.