Coast Guard District Seventeen received a 406 MHz EPIRB alert from the vessel 'Heather Kay' which experienced a fire onboard that could not be contained. The crew activated the EPIRB prior to abandoning ship into a life raft. A Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene and rescued the crew of four. The EPIRB was recovered and secured.
4/15/2005
West of Seminole Lake Glider Port Florida
The AFRCC opened a mission with the Florida CAP who located a crashed PA-28 aircraft. The pilot was subsequently rescued.
2/17/2005
93 NM southwest of Barrow, Alaska
A hunter on a snowmobile broke down in white out conditions and was unable to make repairs. He manually activated his 406 MHz PLB for assistance. The North Slope Borough RCC received the SARSAT alert from the Alaska State Troopers and launched a fixed wing Falcon aircraft because their helicopter was out of service. The fixed wing aircraft located the hunter and the North Slope RCC contacted the volunteer search and rescue agency in Wainwright, Alaska. The volunteer SAR group launched a helicopter and sent out two men on snowmobiles to the hunter's position. The hunter was located three hours after he activated his 406 MHz PLB and was transported to Wainwright by the volunteer SAR group.
2/2/2005
50 NM southeast of Bermuda
MRCC Bermuda diverted the M/V YEOMAN BROOK to the area and contacted the LANTAREA RCC in Portsmouth, Virginia for assistance. The Coast Guard diverted a C-130 aircraft to the area to assist in locating the source of the distress signal. The C-130 aircraft and the M/V YEOMAN BROOK both arrived on scene, located debris and a life raft with four people on board. The crew of the S/V EMILIEN II had abandoned ship into a life raft when the vessel began to sink. The M/V YEOMAN BROOK recovered the four people and their 406 MHz EPIRB from the raft. All four were recovered in good condition.
1/19/2005
30 NM East of Atlantic City, New Jersey
LANTAREA RCC dispatched the Coast Guard Cutter IBIS to the location and recovered two people from a life raft. Their fishing vessel, the CHICO-BRAVO, had sunk. The CGC was unable to retrieve the EPIRB or the life raft.
11/2/2004
70 NM West of Barbados
The vessel, LADY GRACE, was taking on water and the seven persons on board abandoned ship. The San Juan Rescue Coordination Center provided information to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard who rescued six people. There was one casualty.
10/19/2004
200 NM west of Brays Harbor, Washington
Coast Guard District 13 received a 406 MHz alert signal when the crew aboard the S/V KAMAA manually activated their EPIRB as they encountered heavy storm conditions. Four fixed wing, two rotary wing aircraft, and two Canadian warships participated in the search of the S/V KAMAA. The crew was located and hoisted aboard a Coast Guard HH-60 helicopter. They were flown to Astoria, Oregon and released to the paramedics.
