The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal 50 NM east of Fort Pierce, Florida. The fishing vessel Coral Reef, with two persons on board, was disabled and taking on water. Coast Guard District 7 Rescue Coordination Center launched a fixed wing aircraft which located the disabled vessel and dropped a pump and a radio to the vessel. The pumping stayed ahead of the incoming water and both persons stayed on board while they waited for a salvage vessel.
Two SARSAT Rescues.
6/29/2009
136 NM east of Brunswick, Georgia
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal 136 NM east of Brunswick, Georgia. The vessel, the Cheeky 2, made a mayday call to Sector Charleston stating they had engine failure. Due to limited communications , the Coast Guard asked the crew to activate their emergency beacon. The owner activated his PLB and the C-130 used the signal to locate the vessel. The Coast Guard Cutter Forward was in the area and took the crew on board until the Coast Guard Cutter Yellowfin arrived to tow the vessel to a local marina.
Three SARSAT Rescues.
6/28/2009
20 NM east of St. Marys, Georgia
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal 20 NM east of St. Marys, Georgia. Coast Guard District 7 received a PLB alert from a pleasure craft. The boat had capsized and two people were on top of the floating hull and one person was in the water. One of the people activated their PLB. District 7 launched a helicopter and a small boat to the scene. The helicopter hoisted the person from the water and transported him to McKenan Airport. The other two people were picked up by the small boat from Station Mayport and were transported to Nassau Baptist Hospital suffering from hypothermia.
Three SARSAT Rescues.
6/27/2009
17 NM northeast of Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal approximately 17 NM northeast of Ponce de Leon Inlet, Florida. The crew of the pleasure craft Holler Back activated their PLB when they lost all power and were adrift without communications. Coast Guard District 7 received the SARSAT alert and sent a small boat from the Ponce de Leon station to the scene. The Coast Guard small boat towed the vessel safely to shore.
Six SARSAT Rescues.
6/22/2009
14 miles W-SW of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 distress signal, 14 miles west southwest of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. A woman suffering from both an ankle injury and chest pain was traveling in a remote area of the Brooks Range. She activated her PLB for medical assistance. The North Slope Borough Search and Rescue dispatched a helicopter with a medical team. The injured person was transported to the nearest village and transferred to a fixed wing aircraft for Medevac to Fairbanks.
One SARSAT Rescue.
6/20/2009
180 NM southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal 180 NM southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. An Italian vessel Citta di Salerno, with one person on board, had capsized. The Coast Guard LANTAREA Rescue Coordination Center launched a fixed wing aircraft to the scene. LANTAREA directed the merchant vessel Maersk Missouri to the scene. The merchant vessel picked up the survivor, a 67 year old male, and transported the survivor to Newark, New Jersey.
One SARSAT Rescue.
6/10/2009
18 miles north-northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico
The New Mexico State police requested assistance in the search for a crashed helicopter N606SP. At 0445 UTC, the COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal about 18 miles north-northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. There were three people on board. The last known position of the aircraft, 35 48.82 N, 105 44.54 W, was passed to the Santa Fe dispatch from the aircrew when the aircraft started to experience flight problems. The New Mexico CAP and the Air Force at Kirkland AFB launched both fixed wing and helicopters to search for the downed helicopter. When the SARSAT data came in, the ELT position was passed to the search teams and assisted in locating the crash site. The ELT location was several miles closer to the crash site than the last known position. One survivor was located by a volunteer search and rescue team and was airlifted to St Vincent Hospital. The two other people were located deceased at the crash site.
One SARSAT Rescue.
6/10/2009
28 NM southeast of Freeport, Texas
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal 28 NM southeast of Freeport, Texas. The fishing vessel Jennifer, C with three people on board, was disabled and drifting. Coast Guard District 8 Recue Coordination Center launched a helicopter to the scene. The crew of the helicopter found the disabled vessel and directed the Coast Guard Cutter Manta to the scene. The Manta towed the disabled vessel to a buoy. Another vessel picked up the tow and towed the vessel into Freeport.
Three SARSAT Rescues.
6/05/2009
50 NM southeast of Freeport, Texas
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal 50 NM southeast of Freeport, Texas. Coast Guard District 8 Rescue Coordination Center launched a fixed wing aircraft and a helicopter to the SARSAT location. The crews of the aircraft found the disabled fishing boat Margie L with six people aboard. The Coast Guard helicopter established communications with the crew of the disabled vessel. The Coast Guard Cutter Manatee was dispatched to the scene. The Manatee took the disabled vessel under tow and towed it to the nearest safe harbor.
Six SARSAT Rescues.
6/02/2009
27 NM southeast of Whittier, Alaska
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal 27NM southeast of Whittier, Alaska. The fishing vessel Contour, with 2 persons on board, lost electrical power. The crew was unable to communicate so they activated their EPIRB. Coast Guard District 17 Rescue Coordination Center launched a helicopter to the SARSAT location. The helicopter arrived on the scene as well as a Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan had responded to a Coast Guard request for assistance broadcast. The Good Samaritan helped recharge the Contour's batteries and the vessel made it’s way safely back into Cordova, Alaska.
Two SARSAT Rescues.
6/01/2009
10 NM northeast of Baracoa, Cuba
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz distress signal, 10 NM northeast of Baracoa, Cuba. Coast Guard District 7 Rescue Coordination Center sent a telex message to the Cuban Border Guards about the SARSAT alert. The Coast Guard received a telex message stating the beacon activation was a real distress aboard the fishing vessel Rasta Family. The vessel was taking on water north of Punta Maisi, Cuba. The Cuban Border Guard launched a vessel and towed the disabled vessel back to Baracoa, Cuba. The 2 persons aboard the fishing vessel were safe and uninjured.
