US Coast Guard, partners rescue five mariners in Micronesian waters

US Coast Guard, US Air Force, and Federated States of Micronesia responders rescued five mariners in the vicinity of Houk Island, Chuuk, on Saturday, March 13.

At 19:15 local time on Friday, March 12, Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam received notification of a seven-metre skiff with five men on board that was overdue from a fishing trip.

Upon notification, JRSC watchstanders issued a SafetyNet broadcast to mariners. Watchstanders deployed an Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Hawaii, diverted the coast guard cutter Myrtle Hazard, and began querying possible volunteer commercial Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) System vessels and partners in the area to assist with the search.

At 11:15 on Saturday, March 13, an Andersen Air Force Base KC-135 Stratotanker crew located the overdue skiff 80 kilometres southwest of the Polusuk Atoll. The KC-135 remained on scene until an Air Station Barbers Point C-130 Hercules aircrew arrived and deployed a search and rescue kit with food, water, and handheld radios.

The crew of the Panamanian-flagged vehicle carrier Hoegh Brasilia later arrived on-scene and rescued the mariners, who had been missing for three days.

JRSC directed the AMVER vessel to proceed towards Houk Island and remain off-shore overnight. The next morning, Myrtle Hazard escorted the skiff back to Houk Island safely.