FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Public Affairs

Date: 15 October, 2008

Contact: Anthony Turner
Chief, External Communications Division 
(562) 577-0343 
anthony.j.turner@uscg.mil
http://www.new.auxpa.org/

California Coast Guard aided by Florida Ham with high seas rescue

LOS ANGELES, Calif - THE CALL FOR HELP: Imagine being out of gas and having blown sails one hundred miles off the coast of southern California. Who do you call for help – and how exactly do you make the call for help in the first place? If you have a satellite phone the answer is easy if you don’t you may have a problem. Cellular telephones generally don’t work much more than a few miles offshore and VHF marine radios require line of sight and have a range of about 25 miles.  In the case of a 44 foot sail boat transiting from Hawaii, the lone crew member made the call for help via a HAM radio. At the other end of the call for help was a HAM radio operator in Florida who contacted the Coast Guard in California. Using a combination of telephone calls and emails the Florida HAM radio operator was able to provide sufficient information for the Coast Guard to send rescuers.

THE RESCUE:  On an average day the Coast Guard assists 98 persons in distress and conducts 74 search and rescue cases. So coming to the aid of a distressed boater is normal. In this case being directed 100 miles off the southern California coast by emails and telephones calls from a HAM radio operator in Florida relaying the information from a distressed boater somewhere in the Pacific Ocean is not that normal. Nevertheless, the Marina del Rey based 87-foot Cutter Halibut departed for the 10 hour voyage shortly after midnight on October 14, 2008. Despite the cumbersome communications the Halibut and was able to flawlessly locate the disabled sail boat. The crew of CGC Halibut towed the vessel closer to shore where it was then transferred to a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Channel Islands who towed the vessel safely to port. “The crew performed several high risk at sea evolutions today with the ease and professionalism of seasoned mariners. I'm extremely proud of the way everyone stepped up to make a difference in this gentleman's life during such a demanding extended case. “ said Lieutenant Junior Grade Paul Miller, the Halibut’s Commanding Officer.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary urges boaters whether they are on day trip in coastal waters or on an extended trip to file a Float Plan (http://www.floatplancentral.org/) with a responsible party. If the boater will be beyond the range of VHF marine communications alternate means of reliable communications must be considered, such as a satellite telephone. It is also highly recommend that the boat be equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs)

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the United States Coast Guard. Created by an Act of Congress in 1939, the Auxiliary directly supports the Coast Guard in all missions, except military and direct law enforcement actions.

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