USCG Assists Fishing Vessel Taking on Water & Conducts 2 Medevacs in Southeast Alaska
July 21, 2014
Coast Guard Station Ketchikan boarding team members help the crew of the Fishing Vessel Vernon dewater their engine room near Ketchikan, Alaska, July 18, 2014. The Station Ketchikan crew brought four pumps to manage the flooding aboard the purse seiner.
Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center watchstanders received a request for assistance from the fishing vessel Vernon’s crew, with a report that one foot of water was in the engine room. The watchstanders immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of the two boat crews. Once on-scene, a Station Ketchikan boarding team began operating four dewatering pumps to control the flooding on the fishing vessel. The dewatering team stayed aboard the vessel as the Motor Life Boat crew escorted them back into Ketchikan.
Coast Guard Station Ketchikan boarding team members assist the crew of Fishing Vessel Vernon after their boat began taking on water near Ketchikan, Alaska, July 18, 2014. Coast Guard station crews are multi-mission capable, with personnel trained in assisting mariners during a variety of emergency situations.
The cause of the flooding of the Fishing Vessel Vernon Friday morning is under investigation. Weather on scene Friday morning was reported as 10 mph winds and 2-foot seas. No injuries were reported. In addition to assisting the Fishing Vessel Vernon Friday morning, Coast Guard crews in Sitka and Ketchikan performed two medevacs from two separate vessels in Southeast Alaska Sunday. Coast Guard Station Ketchikan 47-foot Motor Life Boat crewmembers medevaced an injured mariner from a fishing vessel near Kendrick Bay and an Air Station Sitka Mh-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced an ailing passenger from a cruise ship near Zarembo Island. The first assist Sunday began when Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders received a report that a 21-year-old female aboard the fishing vessel Haida Chief suffered a head injury when a line parted. The crew administered first aid and requested medical assistance. The command center watchstanders directed the launch of a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Ketchikan to rendezvous with the fishing vessel near Kendrick Bay, on the south end of Prince of Wales Island. The Motor Life Boat crew arrived on scene, brought the injured crewmember aboard, and transported her safely back to emergency medical personnel in Ketchikan. The second assist Sunday began when Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders received a medevac request from the crew of the cruise ship Carnival Solstice. The ship’s crew reported that a 71-year-old male passenger was suffering from stroke-like symptoms. Command center watchstanders directed the launch of an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew. The helicopter crew arrived on scene, safely hoisted the ailing passenger and transported him to emergency medical personnel in Juneau. “The safety of life at sea is our top priority,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Erik Ihle, a 17th District command center watchstander. “We utilize both air and surface assets to perform rapid, efficient medical evacuations when minutes count.” Weather during the fishing vessel Haida Chief medevac was reported as 1-foot seas and 7 mph winds. Weather during the cruise ship Carnival Solstice medevac was reported as 3-foot seas and 10 mph winds. Source of News & Photographs:
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