Articles Posted in Recreational Boaters

A good Samaritan rescued a man after his kayak overturned near Keene Island, approximately 14 nautical miles south of Petersburg, Alaska, Sunday.

A good Samaritan on a vessel located the kayaker in the water and recovered him. The good Samaritan then transferred the man to a Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, who took the man to shore in Petersburg to awaiting EMS.

Coast Guard had received a report from Petersburg Police Department at 11:30 a.m. of the man in the water after his kayak overturned. They diverted a Coast Guard helicopter crew and a Ketchikan boat crew transiting back to Ketchikan after temporarily working out of Juneau.

“The assistance the good Samaritan gave aided to the timely recovery of the kayaker,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jared Buchmiller, Sector Juneau command duty officer. “The Alaskan maritime community is an asset to the Coast Guard and the public.”

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing person near Whittier, Alaska, Saturday.

Still missing is Victor Moreno, who was last seen wearing a green jacket, green pants, and brown boots.
Cordova Police Department reported that Moreno was noticed missing from a recreational vessel at approximately 6 a.m. and it was presumed he fell overboard.

Safety at sea is critical. Lives can be lost or saved by suitable equipment and proper maintenance. Experts can determine when loss is by cause and can assist in getting compensation for the bereaved family to help them re-build their future.

The Coast Guard suspended the search at 8:30 p.m. Coast Guard boat and aircrews dedicated over 13 hours of search time and covered approximately 325 square nautical miles.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday at 8 p.m. for Michael Smith missing in the waters between La Conner and Blaine, Washington.

The Swinomish Tribal Police Department relayed the report that a man had been reported overdue by a family member. According to a relative, Smith was scheduled to arrive in Blaine by sunset Monday.

Crews including Coast Guard, Swinomish Tribal Police and numerous Tribal fishing vessels searched 143 square miles for 11 hours.

With great regret, the search is suspended pending further developments. If anyone has information regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Smith, please call Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard is searching for a reported missing person between La Conner and Blaine, Washington. Missing is Michael Smith, 39, last seen wearing black shorts and a blue sweatshirt.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Swinomish Tribal Police Department notified Coast Guard that a man had been reported overdue by a family member having failed to arrive in Blaine by sunset Monday after leaving La Conner on Monday at 3 p.m.in an 18-foot teal and white skiff.

Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and launched multiple Coast Guard crews.

If anyone has information regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Smith, please call Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

Coast Guard Station Valdez assisted the pleasure craft, Diva, taking on water Friday near Port Fidalgo, approximately 50 nautical miles south from Valdez, Alaska.

A Coast Guard crew arrived on scene and determined the vessel had a weak seam affecting the forward bilge. They passed a pump to assist with the flooding and escorted the vessel back to Valdez with no injuries reported.

The initial report from the pleasure craft, Diva, was that they struck a rock and sustained a hole to their bow. The hole was reported to be above the waterline and members used a tarp and pumps to keep up with the flooding.

“We were able to assist the crew of the Diva because they stayed calm and applied quick thinking in the event of an emergency,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ben Ahlin from Station Valdez. “They maintained consistent radio communications and had proper emergency equipment.”

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan assisted a man aboard a recreational vessel that was hard aground and was taking on water on Saturday in Hood Bay, Alaska. The man reported that he could make his way to shore but there was an aggressive bear on shore preventing him from disembarking safely.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew arrived on scene and landed nearby the beached vessel, transferred a pump to keep up with the flooding, and assisted the owner secure the boat to shore.

The Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick and a Jayhawk helicopter launched to assist a good Samaritan vessel from Angoon which returned the man to Angoon, Alaska.

Sector Juneau received the initial distress call from the man aboard the recreational vessel stating he was hard aground and was taking on water in Hood Bay.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard rescued three people from the water early Friday morning after their boat capsized about a half of a mile northwest of Guemes Island.

A good Samaritan called at 10:22 p.m. Thursday from his residence on Guemes Island’s water edge and reported hearing multiple voices shouting. He said he saw no boats or lights in the water, but could hear both male and female voices shouting “where are you?” and “don’t give up, I’m right here.” He guessed the shouts were distress calls hailing from the water in the direction of Vendovi Island.

A Coast Guard Station Bellingham 45-foot Response Boat – Medium crew and a Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew launched to search for people in the water. They located and rescued three people at about 2 a.m. Friday, two males and one female, from the water off North Beach and confirmed they were pulling crab pots when their boat capsized. The people were not wearing life jackets. The Coast Guard rescue crew took the three survivors to Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes where emergency medical services personnel were waiting to conduct medical evaluations.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

A Coast Guard aircrew rescued two kayakers in distress in the vicinity of Haystack Rock Saturday afternoon near Pacific City. Waist high rubber waders filled with water, dragged the man down and exhausted him as he tried to get back aboard.

The helicopter crew hoisted the kayakers and transported them to the helicopter pad at Pacific City Airport, where they were met by awaiting emergency medical services. Their medical condition is unknown at this time.

The emergency call came in at 1:47 p.m., requesting assistance in rescuing two kayakers in distress. One of the kayakers had fallen into the water near Haystack Rock. The Jayhawk helicopter crew was diverted from training, and a Coast Guard 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew launched. The helicopter crew located the two men and within 15 minutes, the rescue swimmer had recovered both men.

“It was good that they were wearing life jackets,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Billy Sizemore, the flight mechanic on the Jayhawk crew. “But, they were also wearing waist-high rubber waders, which filled with water and counteracted the buoyancy of the life jackets. Between the cold water and the heavy waders, the man simply couldn’t pull himself back into his kayak before succumbing to exhaustion and the preliminary stages of hypothermia.”

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading