July - September, 1999
On September 19, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected an emergency
406 MHz signal west of Sanibel Island, FL. The master of the F/V "Shiloh"
manually activated his EPIRB after his vessel became disabled due to engine
failure. Coast Guard District 7 RCC dispatched a Utility Boat which located
the vessel and towed it to shore.
FOUR SARSAT RESCUES.
On September 15, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected an emergency
406 MHz signal north of PT Reyes, near San Francisco, CA. The F/V "Monika
N" had run aground and contacted the Coast Guard via radio for assistance.
The Coast Guard requested the F/V "Monika N" to activate their beacon for
location purposes and then dispatched a helicopter to recover the sole
person onboard the F/V "Monika N".
ONE SARSAT RESCUE.
On September 10, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz PLB
signal southeast of Barrow, AK. Alaska State Troopers notified North Slope
Borough RCC of PLB activation and N. Slope RCC launched a Bell 214
helicopter to the area. The POBs manually activated their 406 MHz PLB when
their outboard motor broke down.
TWO SARSAT RESCUES.
On September 9, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz
distress signal near Melbourne, FL. Coast Guard District 7 dispatched a
patrol boat and an HH-60 helicopter to investigate the incident. The
helicopter located the P/C "Executive Stress", disabled due to engine
failure and the Patrol boat towed the vessel to port.
TWO SARSAT RESCUES.
On September 9, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz
distress signal near Key West, FL. Coast Guard District 7 RCC dispatched a
Patrol Boat to investigate and issued an Urgent Marine Information
Broadcast. The M/V "Manta" responded to the broadcast and reported itself
sinking. The patrol boat arrived on scene and recovered the 17 people from the sinking
vessel. A commercial salvage vessel refloated the M/V "manta" and towed it
to port. The EPIRB was not recovered.
SEVENTEEN SARSAT RESCUES.
On September 3, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz PLB
signal near Portage, AK. The Alaska State Troopers requested Air National
Guard assistance. The 210th Division launched a helicopter and located two
distressed hunters on an island near Carmen Lake, which was quickly
disappearing due to rising flood waters. The helicopter airlifted both
hunters back to Kulis. The hunters were not injured and were released to troopers,
then to family members.
TWO SARSAT RESCUES.
On September 1, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected an emergency
406 MHz signal off the coast of Aransas, TX. The master of the F/V "Flying
Cloud" manually activated the EPIRB after the vessel began sinking. The
Coast Guard launched one helicopter and cutter to investigate. F/V "Flying
Cloud" was initially assisted by a near by vessel. Coast Guard resources
delivered four additional pumps. The vessel was safely towed to port.
THREE SARSAT RESCUES.
On August 31, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected an emergency
406 MHz signal north of Clearwater, FL. The master of the F/V "Phoenix"
manually activated his EPIRB when his vessel began sinking. Coast Guard
District Seven dispatched a helicopter, which located the sinking vessel and
recovered the operator.ONE SARSAT RESCUE.
On August 24, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected an emergency 406
EPIRB distress signal near Shelikof Strait, AK. The master of the F/V "Mr..
B" manually activated his beacon when his vessel started sinking. Coast
Guard District 17 launched a helicopter to assist. The helicopter arrived
on scene and delivered pumps to the vessel, which were able to get the
flooding under control. The vessel then steamed into port. THIRTEEN SARSAT
RESCUES.
On August 24, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected an emergency 406
EPIRB distress signal east of Chatham, MA. The master of the F/V "Lurdes
and Lucy" manually activated his beacon when the vessel began sinking.
Coast Guard District 1 dispatched a vessel and a helicopter to assist. The
helicopter arrived on scene and removed the crew before the vessel sank.
THREE SARSAT RESCUES.
On August 15, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat System detected a 406 MHz
distress signal E of Nantucket, MA. The Master of the F/V "San-Vito"
manually activated his EPIRB after the "San-Vito" suddenly started to take
on heavy water. CGD1 launched one helicopter, one aircraft and three
Cutters to investigate and was able to assist with pumping operations to
maintain buoyancy aboard the "San-Vito". All six POBs were safely
transferred to a CG Cutter which is towing the San-Vito" to New Bedford, MA.
SIX SARSAT RESCUES.
On August 13, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB
signal SE of Venice, LA. The crew of the F/V "St. Peter" manually activated
their 406 MHz EPIRB for medical assistance for a crewman with a fish hook in
his hand. CGD8 RCC launched a helicopter which located the vessel and
medivac'd the injured crewman into port for medical attention.
ONE SARSAT RESCUE.
On August 11, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz
distress signal near Cedros Island, MX. The crew of the F/V "Horizon" manually
activated their 406 MHz EPIRB when the vessel began taking on water.
PACAREA RCC launched two CG Cutters and a C-130 fixed wing aircraft to the
area. The C-130 aircraft located and dropped two pumps to the disabled
vessel. Twenty-two of the twenty-eight POBs were evacuated from the
disabled vessel to another fishing vessel. Six POBs remained aboard to help
dewater the vessel. The F/V "Horizon" was dewatered and the water leak was
brought under control. The CG Cutters remained on the scene during
distress, but were released after the vessel was no longer in distress.
TWENTY-EIGHT SARSAT RESCUES.
On August 7, 1999, the Cospas Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB
signal northwest of Oahu, HI. The CGD14 RCC reported the "Lady Bela' was on
fire and they diverted AMVER vessel to the distress position. A crew of 31
were rescued by M/V "Alicahue". THIRTY-ONE SARSAT RESUCES.
On August 3, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz distress
signal east of Charleston, SC. The master of the S/V "Wrenbrooke" manually
activated his EPIRB after his vessel began sinking. CG7 RCC dispatched
a helicopter which located the vessel and delivered a pump to control the
flooding. CGD7 RCC also dispatched a cutter which towed the vessel to port.
ONE SARSAT RESCUE.
On July 28, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB
signal west of New Caledonia. MRCC Noumea reported that 2 crewmembers were
rescued by a military helicopter from the S/V "Puffin". Both crewmembers
were reported to be in good health. No further details available. TWO
SARSAT RESCUES.
On July 23, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB
signal near Casco Bay, ME. The crew of the P/C "Reel Chance" manually
activated their 406 MHz beacon when their vessel began taking on water. The
Coast Guard launched a helicopter to the area, arrived on scene, removed
two POB from the sinking vessel and took them safely into port. TWO SARSAT
RESCUES.
On July 23, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB
signal northeast of Cape Ann, ME. The crew of the F/V "Lee Ann Kate"
manually activated their 406 MHz beacon when their vessel began taking on
water. The Coast Guard launched a helicopter to the area and issued an
UMIB. The F/V "Kristen and Michael" responded to the UMIB, arrived on
scene, removed two POB from the sinking vessel and took them safely into
port. TWO SARSAT RESCUES.
On July 18, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat System detected a 121.5 MHz
distress signal near Manokotak, AK. The ELT on a Piper Supercub activated
automatically when the aircraft crash landed. The Alaska State Troopers
dispatched a civilian helicopter which located and recovered the pilot of
the downed aircraft. ONE SARSAT RESCUE.
On July 18, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 121.5 MHz EPIRB
distress signal east of Sparrevohn, AK. AK RCC dispatched an Air National
Guard HH-60 to the site where they located two rafters in distress. The rafters
had rolled their raft several times, lost their provisions, were afraid of
becoming hypothermic, so they activated their Fly Tec PLB-7. They were not
injured and were transported by helicopter to Kulis Air Base where they were
released to the Alaska State Police. TWO SARSAT RESCUES.
On July 18, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz distress
signal east of Brunswick, GA. CGD7 RCC launched a helicopter and located
the P/C "Vixen" disabled due to an engine problem. CGD7 arranged for a
commercial tow.ONE SARSAT RESCUE.
On July 9, 1999 the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB
signal south of Cape Cod, MA. The crew of the M/V "Liftmar" manually
activated their 406 MHz EPIRB when their vessel began taking on water. CGD5
RCC issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and dispatched two
helicopters and two fixed wing aircraft to the area. The M/V "Jakov
Sverelove" responded to the Coast Guard's broadcast and diverted to the
area. The M/V "Jakov Sverelove" recovered the eleven crewmen from the
distressed vessel and took them into port.ELEVEN SARSAT RESCUES.
On July 8, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB
signal west of San Diego, CA. The S/V "Double Bullet II" capsized during a
race, the six crewmen exited the vessel through an escape hatch and crawled
onto the hull. Pacarea RCC dispatched a C-130 fixed wing aircraft and a
HH-60 helicopter to the area. The HH-60 helicopter sighted the six crewmen on the
hull of the capsized vessel, airlifted them aboard the helicopter and took
them safely into port.SIX SARSAT RESCUES.
On July 5, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz distress
signal near St. Petersburg, AK. The EPIRB aboard "Haida Lady" automatically
activated after the vessel grounded and capsized. CGD17 RCC dispatched one
helicopter and a boat to the scene and found all six people from the vessel
clinging to the partly submerged hull. All six people on board were rescued
by CGD17 and transported safely to shore. The "Haida Lady" was later towed
to Port Pelican. SIX SARSAT RESCUES.
On July 1, 1999, the Cospas-Sarsat system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB
signal south of Key West, FL. The master of the P/C "Axis Too" manually
activated his 406 MHz EPIRB when the battery for his engines failed. CGD7
RCC launched an HU-25 Falcon jet and diverted the "USCGC Confidence" to the
scene to assist. The aircraft located the vessel and the Coast Guard cutter
recharged the disabled vessel's battery and escorted it safely into port.TWO SARSAT RESCUES.