The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz PLB at 29 36.1N 085 04.1W, approximately 7 NM south of Apalachicola, FL. A lone kayaker stranded in Tropical Storm Debby texted his wife to tell her he was in danger. The kayaker's wife then notified the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FFWC). FFWC contacted the kayaker, who activated his PLB and forwarded its GPS coordinates to FFWC. FFWC located the kayaker and brought him back to port. Coast Guard District 8 CGD8) received the SARSAT alert and contacted he kayaker to find out that he had been rescued.
One (1) SARSAT rescue.
Date:
June 22
Location:
117 NM north east of Salt Lake City, Utah
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz ELT at 41 43.2N 109 29.8W, 117 NM north east of Salt Lake City, Utah. N4972M crashed in Rock Springs, WY automatically activating the aircraft's ELT. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) received the SARSAT alert and learned from an emergency contact that the aircraft was scheduled to fly that day. AFRCC called the plane's departure airport and learned that the plane had taken off. AFRCC contacted local search and rescue forces, and provided them SARSAT data. AFRCC contacted the pilot via cell phone. The pilot confirmed that she had crashed. The Rock Springs Sheriffs Department located her and took her to a local medical facility.
One (1) SARSAT rescue.
Date:
June 18
Location:
87 NM southeast of Galveston, TX
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB at 28 43.2N 93 17.6W, 87 NM southeast of Galveston, TX. The crew of the fishing vessel Ragin Ravyn radioed Coast Guard Sector Galveston upon losing all power. The Ragin Ravyn reported to the Coast Guard they were not in distress, but needed tow. The crew of the Ragin Ravyn activated the ship's EPIRB to aid in pin pointing its location. Coast Guard District 8 Rescue Coordination Center (CGD8) received the SARSAT alert and passed along the Ragin Ravyn's coordinates to Sector Galveston. The Ragyn Ravyn attempted to arrange a commercial tow, but the company refused because of the ships distance from shore. The Coast Guard Cutter Manta Ray was diverted to the Ragin Ravyn's location, where it took the vessel in tow. The Manta Ray towed the Ragin Ravyn to Sabine, TX, where Coast Guard Station Sabine finished towing her into port.
Three (3) SARSAT rescues.
Date:
June 14
Location:
Approx. 390 NM west of Honolulu, HI
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB with no location. The EPIRB, registered to a NOAA Observer, automatically activated on board the fishing vessel Golden Eagle II when a fire occurred in the vessel’s engine room. The Coast Guard District 14 Rescue Coordination Center (CGD14) received the unlocated alert and contacted the EPIRB’s registered point of contact. The point of contact incorrectly reported that the NOAA Observer was on board the Golden Eagle I. CGD14 determined that the Golden Eagle I was safely in port, and took no further action based on the unlocated alert. At 1134 UTC the COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz beacon at 19 59.0N 166 03.0W, about 390 NM west of Honolulu, HI. Unable to fight the fire on board the Golden Eagle II, and fearing that the fire would ignite the 9000 gallons of diesel fuel on board, the crew abandoned ship into the vessel’s life raft and activated the vessel’s EPIRB. CGD14 received the located SARSAT alert with an unreliable beacon Id. United States Mission Control Center (USMCC) personnel determined the correct beacon Id for the alert and notified CGD14 that the correct beacon Id (an EPIRB) was registered to the Golden Eagle II. (At 1709 UTC the COSPAS-SARSAT system detected the 406 MHz EPIRB with the correct beacon Id.) CCGD14 launched a C-130 aircraft to the SARSAT position, and contacted the nearby AMVER vessel Forestal Diamante. The aircraft located the Golden Eagle II and its life raft, and vectored the Forestal Diamante to the distress location. The Forestal Diamante located the life raft and rescued all seven crew members.
Seven (7) SARSAT rescues.
Date:
June 13
Location:
40 nm off the coast of the Baja California Peninsula about 300 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB in position 25 54.1N, 113 36.8W, 40 nm off the coast of the Baja California Peninsula about 300 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The sailing vessel Reflections, with one person on board, was struck by a whale. The impact from the collision disabled the vessel's steering and the vessel began to take on water. The sailor activated his EPIRB, stuffed a mattress in the hole in the hull and began bailing water. Coast Guard District Eleven (CGD11) received the SARSAT alert, issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and launched a HC-130 Hercules aircraft. The HC-130 established radio communications with the vessel when it arrived on scene. The Ocean Virgo, a Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel, responded to the UMIB and headed to the scene which was approximately 60 miles away. The HC-130 remained on scene until the Ocean Virgo arrived and rescued the sailor.
One (1) SARSAT rescue.
Date:
June 9
Location:
50 NM east of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB at 36 51.2N 075 04.1W, 50 NM east of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Coast Guard District 05 (CGD05) received the alert from the fishing vessel Reaper began taking on water. CGD05 launched a H-60 to the SARSAT location. Station Little Creek launched a response boat medium (RB-M) with pumps to remove the water. The efforts to remove the water were successful and RB-M escorted the Reaper back to Rudee Inlet. No injuries were reported.
Eight (8) SARSAT rescues.
Date:
June 5
Location:
50 NM southeast of New Orleans, LA
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB at 28 25.9N 93 27.5W, 50 NM southeast of New Orleans, LA. The fishing vessel Lancero, with a crew of five, began taking on water. The crew manually activated the vessel's EPIRB and radioed Coast Guard District 8 Rescue Coordination Center (CGD8). CGD8 launched a Falcon jet and diverted an H-65 helicopter from another case. CGD8 later received the SARSAT alert and forwarded the SARSAT position to the outbound aircraft. The Coast Guard aircraft located the Lancero, and dropped pumps to assist with dewatering. A sister ship of the Lancero, the Ranchero, also arrived to help. Once the Lancero was dewatered, it returned to port escorted by the Ranchero.
Five (5) SARSAT rescues.
Date:
June 1
Location:
In the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area 18 NM southwest of Flagstaff, AZ.
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz PLB at 35 00.2N 111 58.1W in the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area 18 NM southwest of Flagstaff, AZ. A hiking party of six people (three adults and three children), activated the PLB when they ran out of water, 2 miles short of their objective location, in extreme temperatures. One of the hikers also contacted a spouse via SAT phone to request help notifying the authorities. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) received the SARSAT alert and contacted the Coconino County Sheriff's Department, who was contacted by the hiker's wife at about the same time. AFRCC provided the Sheriff's Department with SARSAT coordinates. The Sheriff's Department dispatched a helicopter to the SARSAT location. The helicopter located the six hikers and airlifted them to safety.
Six (6) SARSAT rescues.
Date:
June 1
Location:
3 NM west of the Columbia River Inlet, 6 NM northwest of Astoria, OR
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz EPIRB at 46 12.7N 124 06.2W 3 NM west of the Columbia River Inlet, 6 NM northwest of Astoria, OR. The captain of the fishing vessel Orion activated the EPIRB when the Orion became disabled in rough seas. Coast Guard District 13 (CGD13) received the SARSAT alert and forwarded coordinates to Coast Guard Station Columbia River. Columbia River made callouts, issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast. Station Columbia River received no response to the radio callouts, but did receive reports of a flare in a position that coincided with SARSAT data. Station Columbia River launched a helicopter and motor life boat. Station Columbia River was then able to make contact with the Orion's Captain, who explained he was preparing to abandon ship. The helicopter located the Orion and deployed a rescue swimmer. The rescue swimmer assisted the captain onto the motor life boat. The captain was then transferred to Emergency Medical Services in Ilwaco, WA.
One (1) SARSAT rescue.
Date:
June 1
Location:
124 NM south of Nuiqsut, AK
Description of Rescue:
The COSPAS-SARSAT system detected a 406 MHz PLB at 68 08.1N 151 31.2W, 124 NM south of Nuiqsut, AK. Two individuals traveling on 4-wheelers, activated their PLB when a river they had previously crossed, became too high to go back across. Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) received the SARSAT alert and forwarded coordinates to North Slope Borough Search and Rescue (NSB). NSB dispatched a ground team to the SARSAT location. The ground team located the stranded travelers and took them across the river to safety on an Argo amphibious vehicle.
