TRAGEDY SPAWNS HEROES: THE MAKING OF THE COAST GUARD HELICOPTER RESCUE SWIMMER PROGRAM

TRAGEDY SPAWNS HEROES:
THE MAKING OF THE COAST GUARD HELICOPTER RESCUE SWIMMER PROGRAM

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Evanson Fifth District Public Affairs

5 years ago, a tragic event claimed the lives of 31 Merchant Marines, and the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Program was conceived to prevent such disasters from ever happening again. The program has been a guardian angel to many fates nearly taken by the sea.

On the morning of Feb. 12, 1983, gale force winds and 40-foot waves wreaked havoc off the coast of the small Eastern Shore community of Chincoteague, Va. Conditions were the perfect recipe for disaster, a recipe that eventually claimed the lives of 31 mariners by day's end. This tragic event proved to be more catastrophic because the Coast Guard was not prepared to respond. The sad conclusion of the S.S. Marine Electric served as a humbling blow to Coast Guard readiness, and the motto of Semper Paratus. The sacrifice of these mariners, however, indirectly saved the lives of thousands of men and women who would confront the mercy of the sea in the years to follow. The doom of the Marine Electric spawned the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Program, and a new generation of lifesavers at sea.

Tragedy at Sea

The S.S. Marine Electric, a 587-foot motor vessel transporting coal departed Norfolk, Va., for Brayton Point, Mass., on Feb. 10, 1983. Thirty-four merchant mariners were aboard as a winter storm pummeled the lower Chesapeake Bay.If four-foot seas within the bay were harsh, the seas awaiting the Marine Electric in the open ocean were in excess of 40 feet.

On Feb. 12, 1983, at approximately 2:51 a.m., a Coast Guard watch stander in Ocean City, Md., was notified by the master of the Marine Electric, reporting his vessel was taking on water near the front end of the ship. By 3 a.m., the entire crew was mustered on deck near the starboard lifeboats preparing to abandon ship. At a quarter after 4 a.m., as the merchant mariners were preparing the lifeboats, the ship was struck by a powerful jolt, possibly a rogue wave, capsizing the vessel to the starboard side. The Marine Electric crew was thrown into the frigid Mid-Atlantic waters recorded at 37 degrees Fahrenheit approximately 30-miles off the coast of Chincoteague. What was an initial distress call now became a massive search and rescue case, but the following events proved far more difficult than ever imagined.

At the time, Coast Guard flight crews did not have the ability or power to deploy rescue swimmers in the sea to recover victims. As strange as it may seem, a crewmember simply lowered a rescue basket from the helicopter in the vicinity of a distressed person in the water. The rescue relied almost entirely on the victim mustering the strength to get in the basket on his or her own. In cold temperatures where shock and hypothermia were prevalent, this practice proved futile.

When a Coast Guard helicopter crew based at Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., arrived on-scene shortly after 5 a.m., the water was flush with strobe lights, yet little sign of life existed. Not until 6:05 a.m. was a Navy rescue swimmer able to assist with the recovery. The Navy dispatched a helicopter crew from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Va., which had rescue swimmers trained for search and rescue. One-by-one with the help of the crew of the 82-foot Coast Guard Cutter Point Highland, the Navy rescue swimmer recovered the bodies of the Marine Electric crew from the surface; nearly three hours after the vessel capsized.

Of the 34-crewmembers aboard the Marine Electric, 27 people were recovered; only three survived. Seven Marine Electric crewmembers were never found, possibly still aboard the ship. The deceased were later pronounced dead by medical examiners who indicated the cause of death to be hypothermia and or drowning. Meanwhile, as the sun rose, the Marine Electric had already begun a slow descent into oblivion, beneath the sea where it lay in perpetuity.

Aftermath

Following this tragedy, the Coast Guard launched one of the biggest Marine Board of Investigations in its history. Making the case more overwhelming were congressional representatives seeking to know how such a disaster could happen, and more importantly how can a similar scenario be averted. After several congressional hearings, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1984 was passed to ensure the Coast Guard was properly equipped to respond to such cases. An excerpt of the act reads, "The Commandant of the Coast Guard shall use such sums as are necessary, from amounts appropriated for the operational maintenance of the Coast Guard, to establish a helicopter rescue swimmer program for the purpose of training selected Coast Guard personnel in rescue swimming skills."

Introduction of the Guardian

"The Aviation Survival Technician (AST) rating's job which was created in 1969 has always been to inspect and maintain life support equipment, perform ground handling and servicing of aircraft, and conduct aviation administration duties," said Master Chief Petty Officer Donald Murray, Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician Rating Force Manager.

The Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Program would become an extension of the AST mission objective, beginning very subtly in the fall of 1984, as a result of the Marine Electric tragedy. The Coast Guard joined forces withthe Navy, which permitted prospective Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmers to train with fellow Navy swimmers at the U. S. Navy Rescue Swimmer School at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The rating initially known as Aviation Survivalman or ASM graduated five members in this first class.

After a few years of training with the Navy, it became apparent the Coast Guard needed to make modifications because some of the methods taught at the joint service school were not applicable to the Coast Guard search and rescue mission. These methods included scuba, deploying parachutes, tree extraction, and mountain rescue. The Coast Guard's main emphasis is peacetime rescues, not downed military recovery methods. In addition, the program was not without its challenges. The new feature to Coast Guard aviation generated hesitation and concern from pilots with deploying swimmers in hazardous conditions.

"When the program first became operational, there was considerable reluctance to deploy rescue swimmers except under generally favorable conditions, but it soon became apparent, however, that Coast Guard rescue swimmers would frequently be utilized in extreme weather conditions," said retired Lt. Cmdr. Richard M. Wright, in a 1996 article he authored titled "Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Program".

Rescue swimmers assigned to Air Station Elizabeth City officially became the first operational unit with helicopter rescue swimmers March 5, 1985, with air stations throughout the country following suit throughout the following years. "The Coast Guard went fully operational with the rescue swimmer program in October of 1991 meaning all Aviation Survivalmen, [first class petty officer] and below stood rescue swimmer duty at every Coast Guard air station across the country," said Murray.

Since its inception, the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer program has enhanced the Coast Guard search and rescue mission. "The addition of a Rescue Swimmer asset to Helicopter search and rescue teams has had significant impact on the mission. Hurricane Katrina is our most recent reminder of the value of this asset," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Lewis Hart, who supervises the Aviation Survival Technician "A" school in Elizabeth City.

In the two-plus decades of the programs existence, several innovations in training have allowed rescue swimmers to adapt to unpredictable situations that they often encounter.

"The Rescue Swimmer Program has evolved in a number of ways but mostly in more advanced gear and training. The development of the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School in Astoria, Ore., helps train AST's in advanced techniquessuch as vertical surface rescue, sea cave rescue, heavy surf rescue, and swift water rescue," said Hart. In addition, innovations in sport science became an objective in training rescue swimmers. "The AST 'A' School has also developed a Train the Trainer 'C' School that teaches advance fitness and exercise physiology for training AST airmen and for operational fitness," added Hart.

It has been 25 years since 31 souls from the Marine Electric perished. Since this tragedy, it can be said that many lives have been indirectly saved. It is sometimes though tragedy that good can be extracted, and the Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer has fostered this. Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue swimmers have saved or assisted countless lives in the most harrowing of circumstances. In Hurricane Katrina, more than three-thousand lives were saved as the search and rescue operation unfolded on live television. In addition to survival skills in extreme elements, rescue swimmers are trained emergency medical technicians employing basic skills to victims while transporting to medical facilities ashore.

Nevertheless, perhaps the most important thing to remember is that rescue swimmers do not operate alone. It takes an entire flight crew to make saving lives a reality. "Rescue swimmers are highly visible in search and rescue cases and subsequently receive a lot of media attention," said Hart. "It would be fair to say that the media reports deemphasize the team concept with regard to the rest of the crew in such cases," he added. With lessons learned, the Coast Guard stands by for the next search and rescue case, always ready.

MARITIME NOTES:

USA. Mad Mariner introduces video Docking Game

Thursday, 21 February 2008

Mad Mariner, a leading online resource for independent reviews and in depth articles on boating, has announced the official release of The Docking Game, an Internet-based video game that allows boaters to practice and test their skills in a variety of marinas and conditions.

Chicago Maritime Festival - February 23




Coast Guard releases report on Marine Safety program

(WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Coast Guard has released an independent study on its Marine Safety program. The report highlights the need to boost the status of Marine Safety within the Coast Guard organization. It also suggests that relations with the maritime community need to be improved. Click here to view the document.

Vessel pushed aground by ice, Azov sea - 2/15/2008 02:00
February 15, 03.15 LT – m/v Nikolay Sutyrin was pushed aground by ice twitch in Taganrog entrance buoy area, when proceeding in ice-convoy with i/b Kapitan Demidov, in southern direction, Azov sea. Vessel got a hole in cofferdam area, hole fixed by crew. Icebreaker Kapitan Demidov returned to m/v Nikolay Sutyrin, to assist refloating. After refloating, vessel will be towed to port for repairs. M/V Nikolay Sutyrin - IMO7119460, dwt 3355 t, built 1971, river-sea type, owner Samarskaya Shipping Co., enroute Azov-Gerasun (Turkey), cargo 3225 mt coal, crew 11, flag Russia.

Messing About In Ships Podcast Episode #11

February 22, 2008, 5:43 am
Filed under: podcast, shownotes

Have a great weekend!

RS

Saved from the Angry Atlantic

gCaptain and myself have reported heavily on the rescue of the s/v Sean Seamour II and we are please to report that the US Coast Guard Crew that rescued the survivors of the s/v Sean Seamour II were awarded honors for heroism today.

I will also note WAVY and WITN News coverage of the ceremony. Lt.Commander Nevada A. Smith the H-60 AC will be appearing on the Arnie Arnesen Show , Friday December 21, 2007, 0830, morning show!

Congratulations to all!

The full ceremony and citation reads as follows.

AWARDS CEREMONY
CGASECNOTE 5060.1AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY NOTICE 5060.1

Subj: 19 DECEMBER 2007 AWARD CEREMONY

1. PURPOSE. To promulgate information and responsibilities for subject.
2. DISCUSSION.

1. D5 Commander RADM Rosa will present awards to the crews involved in the search and rescue cases of 17 April 2007 and 07 May 2007 on Wednesday, 19 December 2007.

2. LTJG DeWinter is the project officer for this ceremony.
3. A rehearsal will be conducted requiring the attendance of the awardees, XO (acting CO), CDR Gorman (acting XO), CDR Lyons (Formation Leader), LTJG DeWinter (Project Officer), section leaders and the AET assigned to play the CD player/music on Tuesday, 18 December 2007 at 1300.
4. The Ceremony and practice will be held in the east bay of Hangar 55.

3. UNIFORM. Uniform for the official party and station personnel is Tropical Blue Long with combo covers. The uniform for all military guests is Tropical Blue Long or equivalent. Ready crew/Duty Section will muster in flight suits or ODU with ball caps.

4. ACTION. Tasks and responsibilities assigned to various personnel are set forth in enclosure (3).

M. J. Andres

Encl: (1) Detailed Order of Events for Ceremony and Script

(2) Hangar Diagram

(3) Personnel Task Assignments

Dist: Participants listed in enclosure (3)

AWARDS CEREMONY: 19 DECEMBER 2007

Hangar 55

0915 RADM Rosa and his aid, LTJG Tarrant, arrive via personal automobile and park in visitor parking. They will be met by the XO, who will escort them into his office for a short discussion.

ODO: Pipe RADM Rosa aboard, “NOW, DISTRICT FIVE ARRIVING”.

0930 CDR GORMAN, CDR LYONS, CHAPLAIN AND PROJECT OFFICER: Muster at podium.

0935 ODO: "FIRST CALL TO QUARTERS”.

SECTION LEADERS: Call sections to attention. Dress and square off sections. Sections remain at attention. Take position four paces in front and center of section. Sections remain at open ranks at close interval.

0940 ODO: "NOW, ALL HANDS TO QUARTERS."

CDR LYONS: "REPORT."

SECTION LEADERS: Execute hand salute and report "SECTION # IS ALL PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR, SIR." Reports start with the Officer (section one), Engineering (section two), Support (section three), and Chief Petty Officer (section four).

CDR GORMAN, CDR GILBRIDE AND CDR LYONS: Conduct open ranks inspection.

CDR LYONS: When all sections have reported, order, "STATION, PARADE REST." Execute about face and come to parade rest.

0955 All guests seated.

0957 XO will escort RADM Rosa to staging area.

1000 VIPs arrive in staging area

ANNOUNCER: “GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WELCOME TO COAST GUARD AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY. TODAY WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING THE H-60 AND C-130 FLIGHT CREWS INVOLVED IN THE DARING RESCUES OF 17 APRIL AND 07 MAY 2007 OF DISTRESSED MARINERS ON THE HIGH SEAS. (FEW SECONDS PAUSE, THEN) “WE WILL START TODAY’S CEREMONY WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY. MILITARY ATTENDEES SHOULD REMAIN COVERED THROUGHOUT THE CEREMONY AND TAKE CUES FOR SALUTING FROM CDR LYONS. ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE SILENCE CELL PHONES AND PAGERS TO AVOID ANY DISTRACTIONS. WILL GUESTS PLEASE RISE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND INVOCATION.”

CDR Lyons: At the conclusion of the announcement, come to attention, about face and order: “STATION, ATTENTION” and about face.

Project Officer: Coordinate arrival of official party – each member will walk to the platform and stand in front of chair in the following order: XO and RADM Rosa

CDR Gorman: As each member of the official party approaches the platform:

“NOW, AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY ACTING, ARRIVING.”

As RADM Rosa approaches Honors Area, announce:

“NOW, DISTRICT FIVE ARRIVING.”

RADM Rosa: Steps to top of stage and comes to attention.

CDR Lyons: When RADM Rosa is positioned, about face and order: “SECTION OFFICERS, HAND SALUTE” about face and hand salute.

OFFICIAL PARTY, XO, CDR GORMAN, SECTION LEADERS AND UNIFORMED GUESTS: On order “HAND SALUTE,” execute salute.

RADM Rosa: Executes and holds hand salute until completion of two Ruffles and Flourishes.

MUSIC MONITOR: (AET3 Meseke) Play two Ruffles and Flourishes followed immediately by the Admiral’s March (PROGRAM #xx).

MUSIC MONITOR: (AET3 Meseke) Plays National Anthem. (PROGRAM #24)

RADM Rosa & XO: After last note of National Anthem, comes to “Ready, To”, RADM Rosa will be welcomed aboard by XO and escorted to his seat.

CDR Lyons: As XO welcomes RADM Rosa aboard, complete salute, about face, order: “READY, TO” and execute about face.

OFFICIAL PARTY, XO, CDR GORMAN, SECTION LEADERS AND UNIFORMED GUESTS: On order “READY, TO,” terminate salute.

CDR GORMAN: “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY CHAPLAIN LIEUTENANT MARK TANIS.”

CHAPLAIN: Delivers invocation, “LET US PRAY . . . . . . . AMEN”

CDR GORMAN: “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE SEATED.”

OFFICIAL PARTY AND GUESTS: At conclusion of invocation take seats.

CDR Lyons: When RADM Rosa is seated, execute about face, order: “STATION, AT EASE.” Post to position near officer detail and come to at ease.

XO: Delivers opening remarks and introduces VIPs and Special Guests. Invites RADM Rosa to present awards. “NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE RADM FRED M. ROSA JR. TO PRESENT THE AWARDS.”

RADM Rosa: Stands for presentation of awards.

CDR GORMAN:

“I WILL NOW READ THE SUMMARY OF ACTION FOR THE RESCUE OF THE THREE SURVIVORS FROM THE S/V WINDS-OR-KNOT ON 17 APRIL 2007. “ Pause…

APPROXIMATELY 1400L ON 17 APRIL 2007 THE COAST GUARD RECEIVED A DISTRESS SIGNAL FROM THE VESSEL WINDS-OR-KNOT APPROXIMATELY 330MILE NORTH WEST OF BERMUDA. THE COAST GUARD C-130 1502 WAS LAUNCHED TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE SIGNAL. WHILE ENROUTE CG1502 ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND WINDS AS HIGH AS 80 KNOTS. ONCE ON SCENE CG1502 QUICKLY ESTABLISHED RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE S/V AND DISCOVERED THEY HAD A 3-FOOT CRACK THAT HAD OPENED AT THE WATERLINE. THE ILL-FATED S/V WAS TAKING ON WATER FASTER THAN HER PUMPS COULD HANDLE. THE MARINERS HAD NO LIFE RAFT OR SURVIVAL SUITS. WHILE CG HELICOPTER 6041 WAS IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHED FROM THE AIR STATION, CG1502 MADE PREPARATIONS TO DROP SURVIVAL SUITS KNOWING THE SURVIVORS WOULD NEED TO JUMP INTO THE WATER TO BE RESCUED. DROPMASTER AMT2 POST AND AIRCREWMAN AET3 CANTU QUICKLY ARRANGED TWO PUMP CANS WITH THREE SURVIVAL SUITS IN EACH. WITH TURBULENCE CONSTANTLY SHAKING CG1502, PO POST AND PO CANTU REMOVED THE PUMPS FROM THE DROP CANS AND ADDED ENOUGH WEIGHT TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT TO THE DISTRESSED MARINERS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY SEAS CAUSED THE FIRST TWO ATTEMPTS TO BE UNSUCCESSFUL. WITH ALL THE NORMAL DROP EQUIPMENT NOW EXPENDED, PO POST AND PO CANTU EMPLOYED THEIR INGENUITY AND RE-RIGGED THE TRAINING DROP RAFT KIT WITH SURVIVAL SUITS. ON THE NEXT PASS CG1502 SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED THE VITAL SURVINAL SUITS TO THE MARINERS.

BATTLING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS, LOW VISIBILITY AND ICING CONDITIONS, CG6041 WAS VECTORED TO THE SCENE BY CG1502. ONCE IN A HOVER CG6041 WITNESSED THE 40 TO 50FT WAVES AND THE S/V AWASH IN WHITE WATER. DUE TO THE TOWERING SEAS, SOME OF CG6041’S AUTOMATIC FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM WAS RENDERED USELESS AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER FOUGHT TO MAINTAIN A STABLE HOVER. WITH THE CONDITIONS DEMANDING THE AIRCREW’S UTMOST ABILITY AND TEAMWORK, THEY WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH PRECISE TIMING AND ACCURACY TO LOWER THE RESCUE SWIMMER BETWEEN THE VIOLENTLY PITCHING WAVES INTO THE ROILING SEAS. WITH DOGGED TENACITY AND DETERMINATION, THE CREW OF CG6041 METICULOUSLY EXECUTED EACH LIFESAVING HOIST. ONCE ALL THREE SURVIVORS WERE ABOARD, CG6041 PRECEDED THE 330NM TO BERMUDA.”

“FOR THE CREW OF CG 6041…..”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE AIR MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A SECOND – CHIEF AVIATION SURVIVAL TECHNICIAN ARTHUR J. THOMPSON, RESCUE SWIMMER”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A FIFTH – LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DANIEL J. MOLTHEN, H-60 AIRCRAFT COMMANDER – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL – LIEUTENANT LANCE D. LEONE, H-60 COPILOT – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS DANIEL F. CANCETTY, H-60 FLIGHT MECHANIC, IS UNABLE TO BE HERE AND WILL BE RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“THE DROPMASTER AND AIRCREW OF CG1502….”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COMMANDANT’S LETTER OF COMMENDATION – AVIONICS ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN THIRD CLASS RYAN CANTU, C-130 AIRCREWMAN – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN FIRST CLASS BRADY PROST, C-130 DROPMASTER, IS ON DEPLOYMENT AND WILL BE RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COMMANDANT’S LETTER OF COMMENDATION, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A SECOND –– THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

Following applause, Award Detail proceeds to their original formation position.

“NOW I WILL READ THE SUMMARY OF ACTION FOR THE RESCUE OF THE SURVIVORS OF THE S/Vs SEAN SEAMOUR II, SEEKER AND ILLUSION THAT TOOK PLACE ON 07 MAY 2007.”

“EARLY ON THE MORNING OF 07 MAY 2007 THE COAST GUARD C-130 1502 WAS DIRECTED TO LAUNCH TO INVESTIGATE SEVERAL EMERGENCY BEACONS TRANSMITTING APPROXIMATELY 220NM SOUTHEAST OF ELIZABETH CITY, NC. THERE WAS AN EXTREME LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM STALLED OFF THE NC COAST WREAKING HAVOC ALONG THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN SEABOARD. THESE TRANSMITTERS WERE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM, LATER NAMED SUB-TROPICAL STORM ANDREA. THIS STORM WAS GENERATING 40-50 FT WAVES AND SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 50 KTS. THESE CONDITIONS WERE PREVALENT THROUGHOUT THE OPERATING AREA.

COAST GUARD C-130, 1502 DEPARTED NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AROUND 0530L, WHERE IT HAD RECOVERED THE DAY BEFORE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CROSSWINDS AT ELIZABETH CITY. DURING ITS TRANSIT TO THE SEARCH AREA, CG1502 ENCOUNTERED CLOUD DECKS AS LOW AS 500 FEET AND SUSTAINED WINDS OF 70 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 80 KNOTS.

WHILE CG1502 WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE WEATHER, THE COAST H-60 6041 LAUNCHED TO RESCUE THREE MARINERS ON BOARD THE S/V SEEKER, WHICH FOUNDERED 75 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ELIZABETH CITY. CG6041 DEPARTED, CG6041 ARRIVED ON SCENE TO FIND THE S/V SEEKER TAKING 60-DEGREE ROLLS AS IT CAREENED TOWARD HAZARDOUS DIAMOND SHOALS. CG6041 DEPLOYED THE RESCUE SWIMMER AND HAD THE MARINERS JUMP ONE AT A TIME FROM THEIR VESSEL. WHEN THE FIRST MARINER JUMPED INTO THE WATER, IT SOON BECAME APPARENT THAT THE SLASHING WINDS AND ENORMOUS WAVES WERE HINDERING THE ABILITY OF THE RESCUE SWIMMER TO PULL THE MARINER AWAY FROM THE PITCHING VESSEL AND IT’S DANGEROUSLY SWAYING MAST. AFTER 40 MINUTES OF PRECISE COORDINATION AMONGST THE CREW OF CG6041, THE RECOVERY OF ALL THREE SURVIVORS AND THE RESCUE SWIMMER WAS COMPLETE AND THE GRATEFUL SURVIVORS OF THE S/V SEEKER WERE FLOWN TO AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION.

FURTHER OUT TO SEA, CG1502 WAS CONDUCTING ITS SEARCH WHEN THEY SIGHTED A FLARE IN THE DISTANCE, BARELY VISIBLE ABOVE THE ENORMOUS WAVE TOPS. FLYING OVERHEAD, CG1502 LOCATED A RAFT, MARKED THE POSITION AND DROPPED FLARES TO HELP IDENTIFY THE LOCATION WHILE THEY ENTERED A HOLDING PATTERN. FIGHTING THE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS, AND FLYING AS LOW AS 200 FEET ABOVE THE TOWERING WAVES, CG1502 DETERMINED THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE IN THE RAFT. D5 COMMAND CENTER WAS NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY, AND THE SECOND H-60 OF THE MORNING WAS LAUNCHED.

RECALLED TO DUTY EARLY MONDAY MORNING, THE CREW OF CG6014 DEPARTED AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY AT 0740L WITH THE REPORTED POSITION OF THREE PEOPLE IN A LIFE RAFT STRANDED AT SEA. THESE WERE THE SURVIVORS OF THE S/V SEAN SEAMOUR II. SOMETIME DURING THE NIGHT THE VESSEL HAD CAPSIZED AND TRAPPED THE THREE SAILORS INSIDE. WHEN THE VESSEL EVENTUALLY RIGHTED ITSELF THE THREE ABANDONED THE VESSEL TO THEIR LIFE RAFT AND ACTIVATED THEIR EMERGENCY BEACON WHILE THEY WITNESSED THE SEAN SEAMOUR II PLUNGE BENEATH THE WAVES.

ARRIVING ON SCENE, CG6014 WAS VECTORED TO THE LOCATION OF THE LIFE RAFT BY CG1502. HAVING LOST ITS SEA ANCHOR UNDER THE STRAIN OF THE TUMULTUOUS SEAS, THE RAFT WAS NOW SKIMMING ACROSS THE WAVES. THE CREW OF CG6014 DECIDED ON DEPLOYING THE RESCUE SWIMMER TO RECOVER EACH MARINER ONE AT A TIME FROM THE RAFT. CG6014 DEMONSTRATED THE UTMOST IN CREW COORDINATION, TEAMWORK, AND AERONAUTICAL SKILL BY SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYING THEIR RESCUE SWIMMER INTO THE PERILOUS SEAS THREE TIMES TO RECOVER THE SURVIVORS. AFTER THE THIRD SURVIVOR WAS HOISTED TO SAFETY, THE RESCUE SWIMMER, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY EXHAUSTED AND SUFFERING FROM SALT WATER INGESTION WAS RECOVERED. WITH THE RESCUE SWIMMER SAFELY ON BOARD, CG6014 DEPARTED FOR MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT.

WHILE THE CG6014 WAS RESCUING THE SURVIVORS OF THE SEAN SEAMOUR II, A SECOND C-130, CG1501 WAS LAUNCHED AT TO ASSIST WITH THE SEARCH FOR ANOTHER EMERGENCY SIGNAL EMINATING FROM THE S/V FLYING COLORS. DURING THE SEARCH CG1501 RECEIVED A CALL THAT THE 65FT S/V ILLUSION WAS IMPERILED 175NM SOUTHEAST OF ELIZABETH CITY. WHILE CG1501 DIVERTED TO ASSIST THE S/V ILLUSION, THE THIRD H-60 OF THE MORNING WAS LAUNCHED FROM AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY. DEFTLY NEGOTIATING HEAVY RAINS, LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY, AND ENCOUNTERING SEVERE TURBULENCE, CG6003 WAS VECTORED THROUGH THE MAELSTROM TO THE POSITION OF THE S/V ILLUSION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF CG1501. ARRIVING ON SCENE, CG6003 FOUND THE S/V ILLUSION TRAVERSING THE WATER UNDER PARTIALLY UNFURLED SAILS. THE CREW OF CG6003 DECIDED TO RECOVER THE SURVIVORS ONE AT A TIME USING THE DIRECT DEPLOYMENT METHOD OF THE RESCUE SWIMMER. AS THE RESCUE SWIMMER APPROACHED THE FIRST SURVIVOR IN THE WATER, HE SAW THE LOOK OF DREAD IN HER EYES AND MADE A SPLIT SECOND DECISION TO DISCONNECT FROM THE HOIST AND ENTER THE PUNISHING SEAS WITH THE SURVIVOR IN ORDER TO CALM HER DOWN. RECOGNIZING THE CHANGE OF PLANS, THE CREW OF CG6003 SEAMLESSLY TRANSITIONED TO PERFORM A BASKET RECOVERY OF THE SURVIVOR. THE CREW OF CG6003 PERFORMED EACH HOIST FLAWLESSLY UNDER EXTREMELY DEMANDING CONDITIONS. WITH ALL THE SURVIVORS OF THE S/V ILLUSION SAFELY ABOARD AND THE RECOVERY OF THE RESCUE SWIMMER, CG6003 DEPARTED SCENE. UPON THE RETURN LEG TO ELIZABETH CITY, CG6003 EXPERIENCED A STRONG BURNING SMELL IN THE COCKPIT. IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZING THE SOURCE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM WAS SECURED PREVENTING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. CG6003 THEN MADE THE DECISION TO LAND AT THE CLOSEST AIRPORT IN BEAUFORT, NC.

“IT SHOULD BE MENTIONED THAT AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY SUPPORTED AROUND THE CLOCK FLIGHT OPERATIONS THAT EXTENDED THE FULL WEEK OF 07 MAY TO 11 MAY 2007 DURING ITS SEARCH FOR THE ILL FATED S/V FLYING COLORS. ALTHOUGH THE VESSEL IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN LOST AT LOST SEA, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS AIR STATION VALIANTLY DEMONSTRATED THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND DEVOTION TO DUTY IN THEIR EVER VIGILANT WATCH OVER THE GRAVE YARD OF THE ATLANTIC.”

“FOR THE RESCUE OF THE THREE SURVIVORS ABOARD THE S/V SEAN SEAMOUR II THE CREWS OF CG 6014 AND CG 1502….”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE AIR MEDAL – AVIATION SURVIVAL TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS DREW D. DAZZO, H-60 RESCUE SWIMMER”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A FOURTH – LIEUTENANT COMMANDER NEVADA A. SMITH, H-60 AIRCRAFT COMMANDER – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL – LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE AARON G. NELSON, H-60 COPILOT – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A SECOND – AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS SCOTT D. HIGGINS, H-60 FLIGHT MECHANIC – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL – LIEUTENANT PAUL R. BEAVIS, C-130 AIRCRAFT COMMANDER – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL – AVIONICS ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN FIRST CLASS MARCUS C. JONES, C-130 NAVIGATOR – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A SECOND – LIEUTENANT EDWARD C. AHLSTRAND, C-130 COPILOT – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL – AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS STACY A. SORENSON, C-130 FLIGHT ENGINEER – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL – AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN THIRD CLASS CASEY E. GREEN, C-130 DROPMASTER – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL – AVIONICS ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN THIRD CLASS RYAN A. CANTU, C-130 AIR CREWMAN – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“AVIONICS ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS JESSE W. BENNETT, C-130 RADIO OPERATOR, HAS BEEN HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE COAST GUARD AND IS CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE COAST GUARD RESERVES AT ISC SEATTLE. HE IS RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“ALSO, THIS CREW OF CG1502 RECEIVED THE ELMER F. STONE AWARD, AWARDED TO THE COAST GUARD C-130 CREW SEARCH AND RESCUE CASE OF THE YEAR.”

“FOR THE RESCUE OF THE THREE SURVIVORS ABOARD THE S/V SEEKER, THE CREW OF CG 6041….”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE AIR MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A SECOND – AVIATION SURVIVAL TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS MICHAEL C. ACKERMANN, H-60 RESCUE SWIMMER”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A SIXTH – LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DANIEL J. MOLTHEN, H-60 AIRCRAFT COMMANDER – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL – LIEUTENANT GREGORY A. CLAYTON, H-60 COPILOT – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS DANIEL F. CANCETTY, H-60 FLIGHT MECHANIC, IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY AND WILL BE RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A SECOND – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“FOR THE RESCUE OF THE THREE SURVIVORS ABOARD THE S/V ILLUSION THE CREW OF CG 6003….”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE AIR MEDAL – AVIATION SURVIVAL TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS STEVEN M. FISCHER, RESCUE SWIMMER”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL, GOLD STAR IN LIEU OF A THIRD – LIEUTENANT SCOTT E. WALDEN, H-60 AIRCRAFT COMMANDER – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL – LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE WILLIAM F. COTY III, H-60 COPILOT – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“RECEIVING THE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL – AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN THIRD CLASS JUSTIN J. CIMBAK, H-60 FLIGHT MECHANIC – THE OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED”

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE HEROES OF COAST GUARD AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY.”

PAUSE FOR APPLAUSE

RADM Rosa: Presents awardees with citation, poses for pictures, and pins on medal. (With the summary of action being read only once, RADM Rosa may want to pin on award first, then present citation, pause for a photo with member and opened citation, then final hand shake and depart stage.)

XO: Invite RADM Rosa to give remarks and present unit award. “NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE RADM ROSA TO GIVE THE KEY NOTE ADDRESS.” (OR invite RADM Rosa to podium for remarks (opportune to time to summarize unit events from Aug 05 to May 07 and present Unit Award to Acting CO and CMC/LCPO, then Acting CO can give closing remarks)

CDR GORMAN: Be prepared to read Unit Citation.

CDR Lyons: Prior to the reading of Unit Citation. Reposition in front of troops, about face and order: “STATION, ATTENTION”, and about face.

View oc44cc's map

Taken in (See more photos here)

THE CITATION

The Commandant of the Coast Guard takes pleasure in presenting the COAST GUARD UNIT COMMENDATION to:

COAST GUARD AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY

ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For exceptionally meritorious service from 29 August 2005 to 7 May 2007 while engaged in a broad spectrum of missions, extending the Air Station's resources far beyond the scope of normal operations. During this time, aircrews flew 10,398 flight hours, over 976 hours above programmed levels. The Air Station provided inspirational, often heroic, search and rescue (SAR) response on 408 occasions, resulting in 277 lives saved, including seven long-range, extremely arduous SAR missions to Bermuda, hazardous flood relief efforts in Pennsylvania, and a five aircraft maximum effort that saved 12 mariners from four stranded vessels ravaged by sub-tropical storm Andrea. Additionally, Air Station Elizabeth City flawlessly executed massive air support operations following Hurricanes KATRINA and RITA, conducting life-saving SAR and transporting over one million pounds of relief supplies to the devastated Gulf Coast region. Air Station Elizabeth City also supported critical law enforcement and security missions in the national capital region preventing terrorist attacks, and from Central America to Canada, resulting in the seizure of 3,713 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $25 million, while maintaining an impressive 73 percent average aircraft availability rate. Despite this incredible operational tempo, the Air Station's nascent Maritime Security and Response Team forward deployed in support of a number of major counter terrorism exercises, including Frontier Sentinel '06. Elizabeth City's C130 and H60 Prime Units spearheaded the implementation of countless noteworthy projects that have had far-reaching impacts on the entire Coast Guard aviation community. Unit personnel positively enhanced the Coast Guard's image globally by providing hours of support as the Air Station and personnel were showcased in the major motion picture "The Guardian." The dedication, pride, and professionalism displayed by Air Station Elizabeth City personnel, reflect credit upon themselves, their unit and the United States Coast Guard."

The Operational Distinguishing device is authorized.

For the Commandant,

D. B. PETERMAN

Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard

Commander, Atlantic Area

CONCLUSION

XO thanks guests:

CDR GORMAN: “CHAPLAIN TANIS WILL NOW GIVE THE BENEDICTION. WILL EVERYONE PLEASE RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE DEPARTURE OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY.”

CHAPLAIN: Proceed to lectern. When all people are standing, deliver benediction. “LET US PRAY. . . . . .AMEN”

XO oders CDR Lyons: “OPERATIONS OFFICER, PREPARE THE STATION FOR DISMISSAL.”

CDR GORMAN: “NOW, DISTRICT FIVE DEPARTING…..NOW, AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY ACTING DEPARTING.”

CDR Lyons: About face and order: “SECTION OFFICERS, HAND SALUTE,” Execute about face and hand salute.

CDR Lyons: After RADM Rosa has exited the honors area, order, “READY TO.”

CDR GORMAN: “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES TODAY’S CEREMONY, PLEASE HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON.”

CDR Lyons: After official party departs, execute about face and order: “SECTION OFFICERS, DISMISS YOUR SECTIONS.” Return hand salute.

Section Officers: On command, execute salute, about face, and dismiss your sections and advise them they are invited to the reception.

MUSIC MONITOR: (AET3 Meseke) After RADM Rosa has exited the honors area, play “Stars and Stripes Forever” as the formation breaks up.

(PROGRAM # 21)

1100. Approximate time of ceremony completion.

1101 Van arrives outside hangar 55 training room.

1115 Lunch at the galley.

From US Senator Bryon Dorgan

NORTH DAKOTA NATIVE HONORED FOR BRAVERY

For Immediate Release CONTACT: Barry Piatt

Wednesday or Brenden Timpe

December 19, 2007 PHONE: 202-224-2551

Williston native receives heroism medal from Coast Guard:

NORTH DAKOTA NATIVE HONORED FOR BRAVERY

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) applauded a Williston native for his work of heroism and skill as a member of the Coast Guard, to save the lives of foundering sailors during a tropical storm.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Aaron Nelson was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal Wednesday for actions and aeronautical skills "essential in saving three lives" the Coast Guard said. Serving as the co-pilot on the MH-60 helicopter on May 7, 2007, Nelson and the rest of the crew are credited with scooping from the ocean three sailors who had to abandon their ship during sub-tropical storm Andrea.

Lieutenant Nelson grew up in Williston and graduated from Williston High School.

Based at Air Station Elizabeth City in Elizabeth, North Carolina, the crew rescued the sailors during seas that climbed to 50 feet and winds that reached 70 knots. Lieutenant Nelson maintained a steady hover 100ft over the ocean in the trying conditions while skillfully lowering the rescue swimmer into the water to recover the sailors. It was necessary for Lieutenant Nelson to repeat this feat twice more so the sailors could be saved and the rescue swimmer could be recovered safely.

The medal was presented by Rear Admiral Fred Rosa, Commander of the Coast Guard Fifth District today at the Coast Guard Air Station in Elizabeth City, NC.

"Aaron Nelson is a true credit to North Dakota and the Coast Guard. His actions saved the lives of three people who are undoubtedly grateful, but so are the rest of us to know that we have such a dedicated person serving our nation," Dorgan said. "I'm so proud to say that Lieutenant Nelson has been recognized for his heroism. He makes North Dakota proud."

-- END –

ONCE AGAIN OUTSTANDING JOB AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

RS

Robin Storm previous s/v Sean Seamour II posts:
Summary of Action for CG6014 for the S/V SEAN SEAMOUR II- REDUX - Plus
WebExclusive  EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II - Part III
WebExclusive  EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II - Part II
EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II
NHC Report on Subtropical Storm Andrea
 Cheating Death On The High Seas
The s/v Sean Seamour II & The Hatteras Trench
High Sea's Update On Sean Seamour II
The Story of the Sailing Vessel Sean Seamour II
gCaptain previous s/v Sean Seamour II posts:
gCaptain Exclusive - Sailing in Severe Weather Lessons Learned

EEs explain rogue waves

WoW! I have been away from blogging for just a little over three weeks and it feels more like three months.

Its been a busy time both in business and personally for me. I will have some more news about both very shortly.

But in the meantime there is weather and marine news out there.

Yes winter has arrived! Just ask anyone still without power in the mid west right now or living in Boston. Today NWS Chicago is reporting 3 to 5" of snow with lake effect. The heaviest will be during the overnight hours into Sunday. Though the temps and winds so far have not been as nasty as they can get and I am sure that is coming soon.

Talking about nasty. Here is a video of the impact of falling ice during last weeks ice storm in the mid west. Lesson Learned here? Look up when parking your car after you have been warned! This was shot by Storm Chaser and WX-Chase Moderator Chris Novy!


Killer Ice - Watch more free videos


Our featured article of today..

EEs explain rogue waves
By EE Times

R. Colin Johnson
(12/14/2007 2:28 PM EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204803618

Rogue waves as high as a 10-story building have been offered as an explanation for the disappearance of ships as big as an ocean liner, despite the lack of survivors to tell the tale. Recently, remote sensors set up in the oceans of the world have confirmed that single rogue waves as tall as 100 feet occur more frequently than Gaussian statistics can explain. For the first time EEs have generated rogue waves in optical fibers and have confirmed the mechanism that generates them, which they say can occur in other media too, including the ocean.

"Rogue waves are an apparently random phenomenon that is seeded by noise," said lead investigator on the project Daniel Solli, a researcher at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. "We have shown that noise with the correct properties can foster the generation of one of these rogue waves."

According to Solli and Bahram Jalali, a UCLA professor of electrical engineering and the research group leader, rogue waves are analogous to the butterfly effect, a phenomenon in which, under the right initial conditions, a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a hurricane. Of course, these initial conditions are exceedingly rare, but the bottom line for the butterfly effect, according to Solli and Jalali, is that weather is very sensitive to initial conditions, as is the generation of rogue waves.

"Like the weather, these rogue waves appear to be extremely sensitive to initial conditions," said Solli. "It is still a deterministic system, but one that is very difficult to predict, because a very, very minute change in initial conditions can have a dramatic impact on the result."

Researchers studying a microstructured optical fiber near the threshold of soliton-based supercontinuum generation observed the generation of rogue waves in the optical fiber, and they began modeling the mechanism. As a result, the researchers have now characterized the proper initial conditions for generating rogue waves in any medium.

"We show that a particular set of initial conditions are responsible for generating rogue waves," said Solli. "In our experiment we discovered that we were getting some rare events that were far larger than any of the neighboring pulses, and that led us to explore this connection between this phenomenon and the oceanic phenomenon which has a very similar kind of effect."

According to the researchers, rogue waves follow "L-shaped" statistics, as opposed to the more common Gaussian statistics. This accounts for the seemingly out-of-bounds size of rogue waves: in L-shaped distributions the heights of most waves are tightly clustered together, but large outliers also occur. Now Jalali's team is working on a more detailed model for the U.S. Department of Defense, which is aiming to harness the effect for military applications.

"The next step is learning how to engineer this phenomenon, because there must be some useful applications out there, if only we could predictably engineer the outcome of this event, which occurs very rarely now," said Jalali.

Other member of Jalali's team include UCLA engineering researchers Claus Ropers and Prakash Koonath. Funding is being provided by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Tropical Storm Olga

Seems like Tropical Storm Olga has made her stake in weather history as reported by Arthur Rabjohn CEM, Director Steelhenge Consulting Ltd. www.steelhenge.co.uk

CARIBBEAN: Caribbean storm death toll rises

People were swept away in Santiago when flood waters were released The toll in the Caribbean from Tropical Storm Olga, a rare December cyclone, has risen to at least 38 confirmed deaths, officials say. Hardest hit was the Dominican Republic, where at least 35 people have been killed by floods and landslides. The death toll rose again on Friday after the bodies of 12 immigrants from neighbouring Haiti were discovered in Castanuelas, a town near the border. The UN has urgently appealed for $4m (£2m) to help the many left homeless.

National Hurricane Center Reports

NHC releases 2007 seasonal summary – NOAA also releases seasonal report


On the maritime front..

The main feature story of this blog has been the rescue of the s/v Sean Seamour II, that I have focused on is about to make news again. The USCG helicopter crew that rescued the three sailors from their potential watery graves during subtropical storm Andrea this past May are about to get decorated for heroism on December 19 at USCG Air Station Elizabeth City. I will have more as soon as the new medals are placed on their salad bars.



Swimmer Drew Dazzo in the helicopter resting before being evacuated with us to Cherry Point Military hospital for injuries sustained during our rescue, AC Lt. Comdr. Nevada Smith supervising the transfer while coordinating with operations.


KAB 101

Here is a shot many of you may not have seen of the KAB 101 incident that we reported about back on October 29th and 30th. when reported large waves struck Mexico state-owned drilling platform Usumacinta which slammed into the Kab 101 Light-Production Rig on Oct. 24, killing 21 people.

On the weather lighter side....

If global warming, greenhouse effects, jet stream changes or just plain lousy winter weather or any lousy weather for that matter does not confuse you enough? Let's just add good ole Pat Robinson to the equation. The bad weather we are having is because?



RS

US Coast Guard HH-60 crew receives award for May 7th rescue

Its confirmed, on December 19th the four US Coast Guard HH-60 crew members will receive awards for the extraordinary rescue of the crew of s/v Sean Seamour II last May 7th.

The vessel caught in a sub-tropical depression subsequently named Andrea, was further battered by a rogue wave estimated above 100 feet approximately 200 miles off Cape Hatteras North Carolina. rom left to right, swimmer Drew Dazzo who in extraordinary circumstances managed to bring us to safety, Petty Officer Scott Higgins who saved the day bringing all aboard with a frayed cable (so reminiscent of the end of Kevin Costner' film "The Guardian"), "steel nerves" Lt. j.g. Aaron Nelson who followed the fleeting sea-anchorless life-raft in winds over 70kts, and finally, Lt. Comdr. Nevada Smith who took upon himself to undertake this rescue in perilous operational conditions (for those who may have seen Kevin Costner's "The Guardian", he played the role of co-pilot Krausse). Swimmer Drew Dazzo in the helicopter resting before being evacuated with us to Cherry Point Military hospital for injuries sustained during our rescue, Lt. Comdr. Nevada Smith supervising our transfer while coordinating with operations. It is difficult to find words of appreciation, even so many months later, for the commitment of these heroes as there is no doubt failing them we would not be here to extol their dedication. Neither should we forget the C130 crew who miraculously found us among the seventy foot waves,but also the three ambulance teams, three hospital teams and the commander of Cherry Point Military Hospital who mobilized the disaster relief of the American Red Cross to help us through this crisis. Finally, a moment of silence in remembrance of the crew of s/v Flying Colors that dissapeared eighty miles off our starborard, Captain Trey Topping, Rhiannon Borisoff, Jason Franks and Christine Grinavic, likely pitchpoled by the same rogue wave amplified by their closer proximity to the Gulf Stream.

Robin Storm previous s/v Sean Seamour II posts:
Summary of Action for CG6014 for the S/V SEAN SEAMOUR II- REDUX - Plus
WebExclusive  EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II - Part III
WebExclusive  EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II - Part II
EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II
NHC Report on Subtropical Storm Andrea
 Cheating Death On The High Seas
The s/v Sean Seamour II & The Hatteras Trench
High Sea's Update On Sean Seamour II
The Story of the Sailing Vessel Sean Seamour II
gCaptain previous s/v Sean Seamour II posts:
gCaptain Exclusive - Sailing in Severe Weather Lessons Learned

WEATHER NOTE:

CHICAGO - S N O W!

Thanks Jean!

RS

The S/V Sean Seamour III - The Green Boat

Well my good friend Jean Pierre deLutz the Master of the S/V Sean Seamour II, which ran into trouble and sank during Subtropical Storm Andrea has built another sailer. Can't seem to keep a good sail boat captain down for long.

We are still investigating the EPIRB malfunction.

By the way Jean, where did you put the "pitch pole roll-bar?" :-)

As Jean writes;

The Green Boat adventure

"After the loss of our Sean Seamour II between Cape Hatteras and Bermuda on May 7th 2007 see (Final Log), I was in quandary to define what Sean Seamour III should be.

My wife Mayke had long insisted that we should have a silent boat (no diesel engine to smell or hear) and a catamaran for it offers a stable platform. I had long insisted that we would never have a boat that could not right itself from a 180°. After May 7^th, a Catamaran was longer a debate, but silent clean propulsion remained both her desire and my curiosity.

Living on the Mediterranean where wind is either overly abundant or non existent (sailing to Corsica is often motoring there), we opted for a Nauticat 33 motorsailor. A stable platform with a deep keel, decent sailing performance with its extended ketch rig, foremost, a great platform to experiment its transformation into a diesel-electric hybrid as a first step before, we hope a fuel cell electric drive. Through this blog we would like to share our ideas, trials and tribulations, as well as create an interactive repository of knowledge and references on the state of the art and where it may be going. Please don't hesitate to share and contribute, we are all breaking ground.

In the months ahead we will be looking at all the facets of going green. This means breaking down the technology blocks constitutive of a green system, looking at who and what is present and or emerging. We will study the performance and suitability for our project. We are also keeping a sharp eye on new technologies in related areas in an effort to see when and if technology migration, or perhaps we should use the term crossover, may come to benefit green boat adventures where ever they may be.

We hope players from all horizons will come and join our adventure, manufacturers and inventors, system integrators and installers, yards, craftsmen and mariners like us."

Note

We have been advise that the USCG Rescue crew will be decorated for this rescue shortly. The USCG story is posted here, Summary of Action for CG6014 for the S/V SEAN SEAMOUR II- REDUX - Plus, just an amazing rescue story.

I think we can all say congratulations to USCG LCDR Nevada Smith and his crew for a job very well done.

Weather Story UPDATE

A line of sereve thunderstorms crossed southern Illinois around 3 AM. The line delivered winds recorded up to 65 to 70 MPHs and up to 3 inches of rain. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center reports about a dozen twisters had been reported by late Wednesday evening among the more than 138 reports of severe weather. Missouri State Highway Patrol reports two people are dead after a tornado tore apart a mobile home in rural Monroe County.

The threat of tornado's and even micro-bursts extends into today, Thursday, October 18, 2007.

In other Weather News from Arthur Rabjohn;
:
GREECE: Wet weather warning sent
Authorities from around the country have been placed on alert for possible floods, particularly in the parts of southern and central Greece hit by devastating fires over the summer, with wet weather expected to start as of Friday. The National Meteorological Service (EMY) informed fire authorities and the Secretariat for Civil Protection about the deteriorating weather conditions. “From Friday afternoon until the middle of next week, we are expecting heavy rainfall across all of Greece,” said the head of EMY, Dimitris Ziakopoulos. Despite the low rainfall in the first half of October, firefighters were called to handle 42 calls of flooding across Greece, mainly in the Attica area. Fire authorities said all regional heads have been called to map out local possible danger points for flash floods in their district and to set up teams that will be on 24-hour standby.

INDONESIA: Fears of an imminent eruption prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents near Indonesia's Mount Kelud on Wednesday, but many flouted the order stayed at their homes around the Javanese volcano. The alert on the volcano, one of Indonesia's deadliest and located 90 km southwest of its second-largest city, Surabaya, was raised to maximum late on Tuesday, meaning it could erupt within 24 hours. Source: Reuters AlertNet

BANGLADESH: A powerful storm swept through southern Bangladesh killing at least 18 people in mudslides and house collapses and injuring 100, officials said on Tuesday. At least 20 fishing boats sank in the Bay of Bengal and at least 50 of their crew were still missing, fishing community leaders said. Source: Alertnet

RUSSIA: Volcano Bezymianny in Russia is erupting with SWVRC alert level 2. The GDACS alert level is Green.

SOUTH PACIFIC: A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit deep under the South Pacific seabed between Fiji and New Zealand Wednesday. There were no reports of injury or damage.

USA: A magnitude 4.2 earthquake hit California's San Bernardino County early Tuesday, sending shudders across the region, authorities said.


RS

Robin Storm previous s/v Sean Seamour II posts:
Summary of Action for CG6014 for the S/V SEAN SEAMOUR II- REDUX - Plus
WebExclusive  EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II - Part III
WebExclusive  EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II - Part II
EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II
NHC Report on Subtropical Storm Andrea
 Cheating Death On The High Seas
The s/v Sean Seamour II & The Hatteras Trench
High Sea's Update On Sean Seamour II
The Story of the Sailing Vessel Sean Seamour II
gCaptain previous s/v Sean Seamour II posts:
gCaptain Exclusive - Sailing in Severe Weather Lessons Learned

gCaptian - Robin Storm Joint inquiry - F/V Papa George

We wish to alerted our readers to the story of the sinking of the f/v Papa George.

Seems we have another boat that had a possible malfunction of its EPIRB. Only this time there were two deaths involved.

Both John and I are very active in the investigation of the malfunction of the ACR 406 Globalfix EPIRB that malfunctioned onboard the s/v Sean Seamour II and we have reached out to parties regarding the f/v Papa George incident. Both John and I cannot stress how these types of incidents impact everyone in the maritime community. So we are putting out a maritime wide alert and request for information.

Anyone with any information can contact either Captain John Konrad at gCaptain or Rob Stormer at Robin Storm.

The 80-foot boat was owned by Steve and Holly Lovejoy who own and operate Papa George Gourmet Albacore & Seafoods in Portland, Oregon.The following is the forensic notification and alert to mariners of the sinking by the National Weather Service in Portland Oregon dated 3 September 2007 355AM.

"069
NOUS56 KPQR 031054
OAVPQR

NOTIFICATION REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WFO PORTLAND OR
355 AM PDT MON SEP 3 2007

TO:      FORENSIC SERVICES MANAGER (W/OS52)
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
C/O TELECOMMUNICATIONS GATEWAY
SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 20910

INFO:    WESTERN REGION HEADQUARTERS
ATTN: MARINE PROGRAM MANAGER

ALPHA  VESSEL NAME...F/V PAPA GEORGE
VESSEL TYPE...FISHING VESSEL
VESSEL SIZE...APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET

BRAVO:  LOCATION........ABOUT 12 MILES OFF THE LONG BEACH PENINSULA, WASHINGTON.
MARINEZONE PZZ250. DATE............09/03/07  INCIDENT TIME...0130 UTC,
TIME OF RESCUE.

CHARLIE:  DETAILS OF ACCIDENT...APPARENTLY VESSEL RAPIDLY TOOK ON WATER  THEN SANK.
5 ABOARD: 2 FATALITIES. FROM A NEWS REPORT: POSTED BY THE OREGONIAN SEPTEMBER 02,
2007 -23:41PM. TWO COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN DROWNED OFF THE COAST OF LONG BEACH, WASH.,
TODAY AND THREE FELLOW FISHERMEN MADE IT TO SHORE AFTER THEIR BOAT SANK, THE COAST
GUARD SAID. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SINKING OF THE PAPA GEORGE, A 70- TO 86-FOOT
"SEINER" CRAFT, IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, SAID PETTY OFFICER SHAWN EGGERT.  THE NAMES
AND AGES OF THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS WERE NOT BEING RELEASED TONIGHT, EGGERT SAID.
EARLY REPORTS INDICATE THE PAPA GEORGE TOOK ON WATER AND SANK RAPIDLY ABOUT 12
NAUTICAL MILES OFF THE LONG BEACH SHORE, BUT THE SURVIVORS WERE ABLE TO BOARD A
SKIFF, EGGERT SAID. THE BODIES OF THE VICTIMS, A WOMAN AND A MAN, WERE ALSO ABOARD
THE SKIFF WHEN IT WAS MET AT THE SHORE BY RESCUE WORKERS ABOUT 6:30 P.M., SAID
EGGERT, A SPOKESMAN BASED IN SEATTLE. HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TIME THE PAPA GEORGE SANK.
HE SAID COAST GUARD INVESTIGATORS WOULD INTERVIEW THE SURVIVORS MONDAY. NONE OF THE
SURVIVORS NEEDED HOSPITALIZATION, HE SAID. EGGERT SAID THE BOAT APPEARS TO HAVE SUNK
BEFORE ANY OF THE CREW WAS ABLE TO START A DISTRESS SIGNAL OR CALL FOR HELP.
"IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WERE IN A RUSH TO GET OFF THEIR VESSEL," EGGERT SAID.ANOTHER
COAST GUARD OFFICIAL, ENSIGN JOSHUA MATTULAT OF PORTLAND,SAID THE BOAT HAD BEEN
FISHING FOR SARDINES."

According to NWS Portland the weather that day was typical for that time of year. Two weather buoy's report
sea states at:

BUOY 46211 (GRAYS HARBOR WAVERIDER) - reported seas at 5'/08, and,
BOUY 46029 (COLUMBIA RIVER) - reported 6'/08.

Weather conditions were not outside the norm for this part of the  Country and or its season. It is
not our intent to investigate the cause of the sinking that is the job of the United States Coast Guard.
But it is our intention to investigate the cause of the possible malfunction of the EPIRB. This would
represent the second reported EPIRB to malfunction in four months.

As of this writing we cannot stress enough that all mariners must ensure thattheir EPIRBs are not just
in operational condition, that the registration matches the face plate on their EPIRBs, but also that the r
registration actually matches the hexadecimal code in the  NOAA  database. Fred Fry of Fred Fry International
asks us to also remind all mariners that its important to check your EPIRB ona monthly basis.

Hector Castro of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER is reporting on the incident,

Ship's automatic beacon didn't send distress call

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/330379_papageorge06.htm 

Papa George, which sank Sunday, passed 2006 safety inspection

Last updated September 5, 2007 7:10 p.m. PT

By HECTOR CASTRO
P-I REPORTER

An inspection last year found that the F/V Papa George had a working emergency beacon that should have gone off when the boat sank off the Washington coast Sunday night.

But it didn't.

Coast Guard officials said the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon is designed to automatically transmit a distress signal when immersed in water.

"We do not know why it did not go off," said Dan Hardin, commercial fishing vessel safety coordinator for the 13th Coast Guard District.

The Papa George, a Louisiana shrimper converted to operate as a troller and purse seiner, capsized and sank about 12 miles off the coast of Long Beach. The skipper, David H. Starbuck, 61, and crew member Ethel J. Zenaya, 37, both died. The three other crew members survived, making it to shore aboard a skiff, bringing with them the bodies of their two mates.

The boat was owned by Seattle-based Papa George Gourmet Albacore & Seafoods. The company has not returned calls for comment.

Commercial fishing vessels are not required to be inspected by the Coast Guard, Hardin said, but the Papa George had a dockside inspection June 15, 2006, while it was in Southern California. Such inspections are typically made at the request of vessel owners, he said.

"That indicates to me somebody that's interested with complying with the regulations and ensuring they have all their safety equipment on board," Hardin said.

Inspectors gave the Papa George crew a list of safety improvements to make, then conducted a second inspection June 24, 2006. At that time, the vessel was found to have all necessary safety equipment, including the emergency beacon.

"It would have been examined," Hardin said.

The problem with the emergency beacon is just one question still to be answered, and the sinking itself remains under investigation.

Coast Guard officials have said it appears there was simply too much water on the boat, causing it to capsize and tossing the crew into the water.

Just before the accident, the crew was pumping water on and off to chill its load of sardines, estimated at 40 to 60 tons, according to the Coast Guard.

Bob Alverson of the Fishing Vessel Owners Association said the practice is routine on many fishing vessels, particularly those hauling in sardines.

"They kind of have to do that with sardines because they go bad so fast," Alverson said.

But, he added, bringing water on board is always risky, pushing the boat lower, even pushing the vessel around from inside with its own wave action.

Starbuck's niece, Jacque Ford, said she knows her uncle had been concerned about the boat's pump, but doesn't know if it was still a problem. She doubted he would have knowingly sailed a dangerous boat.

"My uncle was a very safe person. He didn't take risks like that," Ford said. "If you were on his boat, he felt very much in charge of your safety."

The former Marine was a lifelong fisherman who lived to joke and laugh, she said.

"He was the kind of man whose presence filled the whole room," Ford said.

Starbuck had two adult daughters from an earlier marriage, both living in Washington. Most recently, he and Zenaya lived in Oxnard, Calif. Zenaya's two teenage daughters have gone to Florida to live with an aunt, Ford said.

Starbuck's family said he was exactly the kind of skipper to go down with his ship.

"If he had lived and any of his crew had died, that would have killed him," his niece said. "He was just a very special man, and we all miss him very much."

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P-I reporter Hector Castro can be reached at 206-448-8334 or hectorcastro@seattlepi.com.

Again anyone with any information can contact either Captain John Konrad at 
gCaptain or Rob Stormer at  Robin Storm,


From the watch bridge;
John Konrad and Rob Stormer

 
Robin Storm previous s/v Sean Seamour II posts:
Summary of Action for CG6014 for the S/V SEAN SEAMOUR II- REDUX - Plus
WebExclusive  EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II - Part III
WebExclusive  EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II - Part II
EPIRBs and the s/v Sean Seamour II
NHC Report on Subtropical Storm Andrea
 Cheating Death On The High Seas
The s/v Sean Seamour II & The Hatteras Trench
High Sea's Update On Sean Seamour II
The Story of the Sailing Vessel Sean Seamour II

gCaptain previous s/v Sean Seamour II posts:
gCaptain Exclusive - Sailing in Severe Weather Lessons Learned