Coast Guard medevacs crew member from fishing vessel. The Coast Guard medevaced a crew memeber from the fishing vessel Jonathan Boy II, 40 miles southeast of Cameron, La., May 8. Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a request at 2:57 a.m., to medevac a 60-year-old crew member who was experiencing unconsciousness, clammy, pale skin, heavy breathing, and extreme fatigue. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac. A Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew launched to conduct the medevac. Once on scene, the Dolphin crew hoisted the ailing crew member, and transferred him to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, Texas in stable condition. Read more.
Coast Guard Station South Padre Island crew rescued a dolphin caught in an illegal fishing. The Coast Guard rescued a dolphin caught in an illegal fishing net near South Padre Island, Texas, May 4, near Laguna Madre. A Station South Padre boat crew launched to respond. Once on scene, the crew cut the dolphin free from the net and released it back into its habitat. The illegal gillnet fishing gear had entangled 10 bonnethead sharks, one blacktip shark, 20 catfish, one redfish, and a bottlenose dolphin. "This incident clearly exemplifies the negative impacts of illegal fishing gear used in U.S. waters,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew Ferguson, a Station South Padre Island boarding officer. “Not only does it impact marine life, but the entire ecosystem as a whole. Thankfully, we were able to free the dolphin and remove the gillnet before it trapped and killed any additional marine life.” Read more.
Coast Guard repatriates 78 people to Haiti. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell's crew repatriated 78 Haitians to Cap-Haitien, Haiti, May 3, after being stopped approximately 33 miles northwest of Isle de Tortue, Haiti. Campbell’s crew spotted the overloaded vessel. Once a deployed small boat crew arrived on scene, the crew determined the vessel had no safety equipment and was unstable and in danger of capsizing. "We are urging families in the U.S. to ask their loved ones not to risk their lives on this dangerous journey," said Lt. Karolina Del Hierro Vega, a Coast Guard District Seven enforcement officer. "These Haitian sail vessels are not stable and unpredictable seas increase the chance of capsizing and loss of life." Since Oct. 1, 2021, Coast Guard crews have interdicted 3,897 Haitian migrants. Read more.
Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral holds groundbreaking ceremony. Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral crew held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 21,000 square-foot search and rescue building in Port Canaveral, Fla., May 2. Chief Warrant Officer 3 John P. Chandler, Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral commanding officer , presided over the ceremony. “Today we broke ground on an exciting new multi-mission facility at Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral," said Chandler. "This new facility will house multiple commands, in a new technologically advanced building with up-to-date amenities to ensure we remain Semper Paratus, Always Ready!” Read more.