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The 28-man crew from the abandoned fishing vessel Hou Chun 11 cling to life rafts 900 miles south of Honolulu, Feb. 9, 2010. Coast Guard crews from Hawaii and Alaska responded to the 28-member crew and provided medical assistance. U.S. Coast Guard video by Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point.

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Coast Guard crews have located the 28-member crew of the disabled fishing vessel Hou Chun 11 early Tuesday morning and are providing medical care to injured crewmembers.

Corpsmen aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley are treating two Hou Chun 11 crewmembers who are reported to have suffered burns. The Alex Haley will transit to Christmas Island, Kiribati, where the two burn victims are scheduled to be medically evacuated.

The Alex Haley arrived on scene at approximately 3 a.m. Tuesday. A Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew remained on scene after the Alex Haley arrived to coordinate the exact position of the life rafts.
Coast Guard and U.S. Navy aircrews remained on scene throughout the night.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center watchstanders received the call here Monday at 7:30 a.m. about a fire aboard the fishing vessel Hou Chun 11 and launched a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules at 10 a.m. to the vessel’s location 900 miles southwest of Honolulu. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, homeported in Kodiak, Alaska, and a U.S. Navy P-3 aircrew also responded to the call.

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HONOLULU — A U.S. Coast Guard air crew aboard a C-130 long-range search and rescue aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point on Oahu conducted a medical evacuation of a Big Island man Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.

The 25-year-old male is being transported to a local hospital in Honolulu after suffering injuries during a fall. The North Hawaii Community Hospital contacted Coast Guard watch standers in Honolulu early Saturday to arrange the transfer. The C-130 Hercules aircraft crew was launched at approximately 3 p.m.

The Hercules aircrew arrived at Kona International Airport at 5:45 p.m. to pick up the patient, who had been transferred there from North Hawaii Community Hospital.

The air crew arrived at Air Station Barbers Point at approximately 7:30 p.m. and City and County of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services personnel were waiting to transport the patient to The Queens Medical Center for further medical care.

Video produced by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen

MIAMI — The crew of a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, evacuated more than 60 Haitian-Americans Sunday (Jan 17) from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The group of Haitian-Americans, which included several infants and toddlers, are U.S. citizens who were in Port-au-Prince when a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck there Tuesday afternoon, affecting millions of people. The C-130 crew transported the group from Port-au-Prince to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., with a stop at Naval Air Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for supplies.

Coast Guard announces publication of notice of intention to terminate the Long Range Aids to Navigation (Loran-C) signal

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard’s Director of Prevention Policy announced Thursday (Jan 7) publication in the Federal Register of plans to cease broadcasting the North American Loran-C signal Feb. 8.

As a result of technological advancements during the last 20 years and the emergence of the U.S. Global Positioning System, Loran-C is no longer required by the armed forces, the transportation sector or the nation’s security interests, and is used by only a small segment of the population.

President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2010 budget supported the termination of outdated systems and specifically cited the terrestrial-based North American Loran-C system as such an example. The president did not seek funding for the Loran-C system in fiscal year 2010. Termination was also supported through the enactment of the 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.

The decision to terminate transmission of the Loran-C signal reflects the president’s pledge to eliminate unnecessary federal programs.

The Loran-C system was not established as, nor was it intended to be, a viable systemic backup for GPS. If a single, domestic national system to back up GPS is identified as being necessary, the Department of Homeland Security will complete an analysis of potential backups to GPS. The continued active operation of Loran-C is not necessary to advance this evaluation.

The notice may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov, docket number: USCG-2009-0299. for more information on terminations, reductions and savings contained in the fiscal year 2010 budget, including Loran-C, visit www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/TRS/

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HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for Devin Johnson, a 23-year-old fisherman last seen early Friday morning approximately 60 miles west of the Big Island.

The Coast Guard notified the family and officially suspended the search at 7:30 p.m. pending any further developments.

Air crews aboard a Coast Guard C-130 long-range search plane and HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter were on scene at first light Sunday morning and searched throughout the day.

Also searching today were air crews aboard a Navy P-3 Orion fixed-wing aircraft and SH-60 Seahawk rescue helicopter from the Navy’s HSL Squadron 37. Both aircraft are based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.

A search directed from the Coast Guard’s 24-hour Honolulu Harbor command center covered more than 8,000 square miles — an area nearly twice the size of the Big Island.

“It’s always difficult to suspend a search,” said Capt. Barry Compagnoni, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Honolulu, and the senior-most Coast Guard officer responsible for directing the search.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Devin Johnson’s family, friends and loved ones during this tragic time. We saturated the search area with as many assets as we could bring to bear and it is extremely unfortunate we were unable to find any sign.”

Searchers on scene today reported weather conditions of seas of five feet and winds from the southeast at 25 mph.

Anyone with further information about the missing man is asked to contact the Coast Guard at 808-842-2600 or via VHF marine band radio channel 16 or the Hawaii Police Department on the Big Island.

U.S. Coast Guard search for missing fisherman continues in deteriorating weather

Nov. 14, 2009

HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard continues a search for Devin Johnson, a 23-year-old fisherman last seen early Friday morning approximately 60 miles west of the Big Island.
Air crews aboard a Coast Guard C-130 long-range search plane and HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter were on scene at first light Saturday morning. The 18-member crew of the Hilo-based Coast Guard cutter Kiska has been on scene searching continuously since Friday afternoon.

Also searching today are air crews aboard a Navy P-3 Orion fixed-wing aircraft and SH-60 Seahawk rescue helicopter from the Navy’s HSL Squadron 37. Both aircraft are based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.

A search directed from the Coast Guard’s 24-hour Honolulu Harbor command center has covered more than 6,000 square miles — an area nearly 10 times the size of Oahu. Also on scene searching are friends and relatives aboard at least five private vessels.

Searchers on scene have reported deteriorating weather conditions with seas of 12 feet and winds from the southeast at 25 mph. Johnson was last seen wearing an olive green sweater and black shorts, but no life jacket.

Anyone with further information about the missing man is asked to contact the Coast Guard at 808-842-2600 or via VHF marine band radio channel 16 or the Hawaii Police Department on the Big Island.

This isn’t in Hawaii, but it is a reminder of what our service members accomplish every day, even on the homefront. Plus, it’s why we love helicopter pilots.

ASTORIA, Ore. – The Coast Guard medically evacuated a crewmember from a U.S. Navy submarine off the coast of Washington, Tuesday (Sept 29). The Navy contacted the Coast Guard at 5:50 p.m. to request assistance in transferring a crewmember to a hospital from a submarine. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to assist. The rescue helicopter arrived on scene at 7:12 p.m. and hoisted the crewmember by basket from the sail of the submarine. The crewmember was transferred to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore. (U.S. Coast Guard video/Air Station Astoria)

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point crew members Petty Officer 2nd Class Ray Oliveira and Petty Officer 2nd Class Yahya Sharp drop medical supplies from a C-130 search plane to the cruise ship Carnival Spirit, approximately 230 miles northeast of Honolulu, Monday (Sept. 21). (U.S. Coast Guard video/Petty Officer 3rd Class Angela Henderson)

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A U.S. Coast Guard air crew medically evacuated an ill 63-year-old male from the cruise ship Carnival Spirit Monday.

Eleventh Coast Guard District Command Center watch standers, located in Alameda, Calif., received the distress call from the crew of the 959-foot cruise ship Saturday at 1 p.m.

Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) watch standers, located here, were contacted at 11 p.m. Saturday after the cruise ship’s doctor reported the man’s condition was deteriorating.

JRCC watch standers placed the cruise ship on a firm communications schedule. The ship’s doctor reported Sunday afternoon that the man needed vital medication by 2 p.m. Monday because the ship’s supply was running low.

An Air Station Barbers Point C-130 long-range search plane crew air dropped the medication to the cruise ship 200 miles northeast of Oahu at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

When the cruise ship was 100 miles of Oahu Monday, an HH-65 rescue helicopter crew medically evacuated the man via a rescue basket at 5:40 p.m.

The man was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center at 6:20 p.m.

“The communications between the JRCC, Eleventh (Coast Guard) District and cruise ship personnel were vital to the success of this operation,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Franco Hernandez, a JRCC watch stander.

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HONOLULU — With one of the busiest recreational boating weekends on the horizon, the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Honolulu Sail and Power Squadron are working together to remind boaters that following basic safety precautions can ensure a safe, enjoyable Labor Day weekend on the water.

This weekend affords people with plenty of opportunity to enjoy Hawaii’s waters. If you boat, commit to boating sober.

According to Coast Guard statistics, victims fell overboard or capsized their boat in more than half of the boating deaths involving alcohol. An intoxicated person in the water faces a double danger – being unaware of the onset of hypothermia and increased disorientation resulting from inner ear disturbances.

As with drinking and driving, boating while intoxicated is illegal. Both the Coast Guard and individual states enforce Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws and violators face substantial fines, losing their operator privileges, and jail time. The Coast Guard and state law enforcement agencies have concurrent jurisdiction, meaning they can both enforce BUI laws.

“If we could communicate three short messages, they would be: wear your life jacket; give a safety briefing to those boating with you; and be totally aware at all times of conditions around you,” said Kent Richards, the 14th Coast Guard District’s recreational boating specialist.

To enjoy a safe day on the water, the Coast Guard also suggests that boaters:

• File a float plan – A float plan is simply letting a reliable loved one or friend know where you are going, when you are going to be back, and what kind of vessel you have. That person can call the Coast Guard if you don’t return on time and save critical time during searches;
• Be aware of weather and water conditions;
• Never boat or paddle alone;
• Be cautious–do not exceed your ability to handle your vessel;
• Be constantly aware of other vessels in the immediate area.

The Coast Guard also encourages coastal and off-shore recreational boaters as well as sea kayakers to carry a VHF marine radio — either a fixed system or handheld unit — and be familiar with its operation and radio procedures. The VHF radio, monitored on channel 16, is your gateway to communicating with the Coast Guard or other vessels in your area. It can be a life saver in a distress situation.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that all boaters take a recreational boating safety course and obtain a vessel safety check. Even if you pay careful attention to safety, dangerous mechanical problems can crop up on the best-maintained boat. That’s why the U.S. Coast Guard recommends that all recreational boaters take advantage of the free vessel safety check program. Vessel safety checks are conducted by local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas.

Boaters in distress may contact the Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 or 808-842-2600.

Additional course information is also available through the BOAT/U.S. Foundation at 1-800-336-BOAT.

For additional boating safety tips, boaters can access the Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Web site at:

uscgaux.org/ or www.uscgboating.org