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Sector Corpus Christi News

10 Apr 2023

Ailing Towboat Captain Medevaced in Texas

(Photo U.S. Coast Guard)

An ailing towboat captain was medevaced from a U.S. flagged vessel near Port Aransas, Texas, Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Coast Guard said its watchstanders at Sector Corpus Christi received a medevac request at 10:49 p.m. Saturday from the Corpus Christi Harbor Master's Office stating the 59-year-old captain of the towing vessel Endurance was experiencing abdominal pain and nausea. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac.Watchstanders…

23 Jan 2023

Harbor Tug Grounds After Collision Near Corpus Christi

The tug boat Mark E. Kuebler rests aground on shoal water near Corpus Christi, Texas, Jan. 23, 2023. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

A harbor tug has run aground after colliding with an oil tanker near Corpus Christi, Texas.The U.S. Coast Guard said its watchstanders at the Sector Corpus Christi command center received a call at 4 p.m. Sunday from the agent of G&H Towing stating that the tug Mark E. Keubler had grounded outside the channel near the South Texas Gateway refinery and was taking on water.Before grounding, the tug was reportedly involved in a collision with the Saudi-registered oil tanker Nisalah.

29 Sep 2022

Runaway Barge Near Corpus Christi

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi)

A barge has gone adrift and ran aground near the Packery Channel in Corpus Christi, Texas on Thursday.The U.S. Coast Guard said it received a call at 7:45 a.m. from a driver on Texas State Highway 361 stating they saw an adrift barge floating in the Packery Channel between the boat ramp and the jetties. The barge was loaded with rocks and drifting outbound.The Coast Guard notified Callan Marine, the company contracted to repair the jetty using the barge, and issued a safety marine information broadcast to alert nearby mariners and beachgoers to the potential hazard.

24 Aug 2022

US Coast Guard Resuscitates Tanker Crewman Near Corpus Christi

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced and resuscitated a 60-year-old man from a tanker vessel 90 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Wednesday.Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders received a call at approximately 9:36 a.m. from the captain of the tanker vessel Beatrice requesting a medevac for a crew member reportedly experiencing trouble breathing and abdominal pain. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac.Watchstanders directed the…

27 Dec 2016

Missing man's Body located in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas

A Coast Guard aircrew found the body of a 61-year-old fisherman Monday, after he was reported missing off Mustang Island earlier in the morning. The Corpus Christi Police Department notified Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders at 7:35 a.m. The police reported that the man's wife was waiting in the car when he went wade fishing Sunday at about 11 p.m. They reported that she attempted to contact him when he didn't return and she fell asleep waiting for him, calling the police when she awoke. A Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew was immediately launched and joined a Corpus Christi Police Department boat, two Nueces County Fire Department boats and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shore search.

12 Oct 2016

Tug Allision Causes Diesel Spill in Texas

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi and the Texas General Land Office are responding to an oil spill at mile marker 667 on the Intracoastal Waterway near Port Isabel, Wednesday. Watchstanders at Sector Corpus Christi received a report that the uninspected towing vessel Capt. Jim Green allided with a dock at the Subsea 7 facility, releasing approximately 20,000 gallons of low sulfur diesel fuel into the waterway at 11:24 p.m., Tuesday. A Unified Command consisting of the Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office and Kirby Inland Marine has been established in response to the allision and diesel spill. Miller Environmental, an oil spill response organization, is currently on scene conducting air monitoring and oil recovery operations. The source of the spill has been secured.

03 Oct 2016

Ailing Crewman Medevaced from Bulk Carrier

The MH-65 air crew that performed the medevac. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Sector Corpus Christi)

A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a 34-year-old man from a 600-foot bulk carrier 10 miles offshore in the Brownsville Anchorage, off South Padre Island, Texas on Monday morning. At approximately 9 p.m. Sunday, the vessel shipping agent contacted Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders and reported a crewmember on the Global Andes was experiencing symptoms from a preexisting heart condition. The ship's captain requested a Coast Guard medevac upon arrival to the Brownsville Anchorage the next morning because the ship was still 130 miles at sea.

10 Nov 2015

Search On For Missing Sailboat in Gulf of Mexico

The Coast Guard is searching for an overdue boater near Main Pass in the Gulf of Mexico, Monday. Missing is Keith Carver, 61, of Tucson, Az. Carver's girlfriend notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi that his 38-foot sailboat, the Carpe Noctem, was overdue on Nov. 4. Carver departed Biloxi, Miss., on Nov. 3 with the intended destination of Corpus Christi, Texas. Searching are: A Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala. HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft crew. A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft crew.

03 Nov 2015

Greek Shipper Pleads Guilty to Dumping off Texas

A ship management company has pleaded guilty and was sentenced October 27, 2015 for deliberately concealing pollution discharges from the ship directly into the sea and for falsifying its oil record book, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson along with Rear Admiral David R. Callahan, Eighth District Coast Guard Commander. Chandris (Hellas) Inc. is headquartered in Greece and operated the M/V Sestrea - an 81,502 ton cargo ship that made calls in multiple ports in Texas. Chandris pleaded guilty to a violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for failing to properly maintain an oil record book as required by federal and international law, as well as a violation of making a false statement for making a false entry in the ship’s oil record book. Shortly following the plea, U.S.

07 Oct 2015

USCG Completes Investigation into Ship Channel Death

The U.S. Coast Guard has completed its investigation into an incident in which a Mexican national was killed after being struck and by a patrol boat in the Brownsville Ship Channel in April. The mishap investigation found that the female migrant was unintentionally struck by a patrolling Coast Guard 33 foot Special Purpose Craft - Law Enforcement small boat on April 23. The report states that the undocumented migrant and a human smuggler were attempting to cross the commercial shipping channel undetected at night when she was struck. "We are extremely saddened by this tragic loss of life," said Sector Corpus Christi Commander, Capt. Tony Hahn. "Our condolences go to the family who lost their loved one and all those involved in this tragic incident.

29 Jun 2015

Missing Divers Found in Gulf of Mexico

A Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew stands with two rescued divers after they were located and rescued Saturday, June 27. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

U.S. Two overdue divers offshore from San Jose Island, Texas, were rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter crew Saturday afternoon. The two San Antonio men, Dennis Garrett and Robert Holms, were diving approximately 16 miles off the shoreline of San Jose Island at approximately 10 a.m. when they became noticeably overdue, leading the captain of the dive boat Reel Excursions to contact the USCG on marine band VHF-16 after growing concerns that they were 40 minutes overdue and could not be found.

19 Jun 2015

Catamaran Race Starts with 2 Rescues

An Air Station Corpus Christi rescue swimmer is deployed for two rescues in the Gulf of Mexico and audio of a distress call from one of the mariners on VHF-16. (screenshot from USCG video)

The U.S. Coast Guard brought two men to safety Thursday after a sailboat capsized 3 miles offshore and rescued another man who went overboard 11 miles offshore; all were participating in the first leg of the Great Texas 300. After being postponed due to Tropical Storm Bill, the 100-mile stretch from South Padre Island to Mustang Island of the Great Texas 300 began early Thursday morning. The race ends in Galveston. At approximately 11 a.m., a manmade a distress call on VHF marine band radio channel 16…

04 Jun 2015

Mexican Fishing Boat Seized Following 30-mile Chase

A Mexican lancha sits trailered at Coast Guard Station South Padre Island, Monday, after South Texas Coast Guard crew interdicted the lancha, 30 miles offshore. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

U.S. A Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in the waters off South Texas, Monday. At 11 p.m. Sunday, an Air Station Corpus Christi aircrew aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane located a lancha 20 miles north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border and 30 miles offshore. The aircrew vectored in the Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk and a 33-foot law enforcement boat from Station South Padre Island; the lancha was chased for 30 miles before it stopped south of the maritime border.

06 Mar 2015

USCG Petty Officer Convicted, Sentenced

A Coast Guardsman was convicted and sentenced during a General Court-Martial in New Orleans, Thursday. Petty Officer 2nd Class Leonel Hinojosa, 32, was sentenced to reduction to E-1, confinement for two years, and a Dishonorable Discharge from the United States Coast Guard. While he is in confinement he forfeits the right to his pay and allowances. Hinojosa was convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice of two specifications of Article 92 (dereliction of duty), one specification of Article 107 (false official statement), three specifications of Article 120 (abusive sexual contact) and one specification of Article 128 (assault consummated by battery).

09 Feb 2015

USCG Rescues 4 Mexican Poachers

Coast Guard crews rescued four Mexican nationals from their sinking boat Saturday, after they were spotted illegally fishing north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border. At approximately 8 p.m. Saturday, a crewmember aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Brant, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat, spotted a Mexican boatcrew poaching fish in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, 30 miles off South Padre Island. Sector Corpus Christi Command Center watchstanders diverted a crew aboard a Station South Padre Island 33-foot law enforcement boat and diverted an Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew to intercept. The aircrew vectored in the law enforcement boat and cutter. The Brant's crew intercepted and stopped the lancha, but the lancha began to take on water.

06 Oct 2014

USCG, Good Samaritans Rescue 5 Near Aransas Pass

the Aransas Pass bridge Saturday. At approximately 6:30 p.m., the Aransas Pass Police Department notified Coast Guard watchstanders that there were people in the water in the vicinity of the Aransas Pass bridge. The watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi launched a 25-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Port Aransas, diverted an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew already out on patrol, and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast requesting mariners in the area to render assistance. The response boat arrived on scene at approximately 6:45 p.m. and recovered two people sitting atop an overturned pleasure craft. Three other people were previously picked up by good Samaritans and were later transferred to the Coast Guard response boat.

29 Sep 2014

Airlift Video: Sick Sailor Taken Off Containership

US Coastguard Corpus Christi inform that a rescue helicopter has medevaced the crewmember of a container ship approximately 40 miles offshore of South Padre Island. The Coast Guard's 8th District watchstanders notified the Sector Corpus Christi Command Center at around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, that a 24-year-old foreign male crewmember aboard the 892-foot container ship Monte Azul, was experiencing symptoms of appendicitis and requested to be taken off of the ship for treatment. The ship was originally beyond the range of responding helicopters. The watchstanders at the 8th District watchstanders requested the ship head toward South Padre Island and arranged a rendezvous location 40 miles offshore with the ship’s captain.

24 May 2014

Coast Guard Seizes Illegal Catch, Crew Member Injured

The Coast Guard interdicted a Mexican fishing crew poaching in South Texas, Thursday, after it was pursued by a Coast Guard aircraft and intercepted by the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Cobia. In an unrelated incident after intercepting the lancha, a crewmember from the Cobia fell and was injured, requiring a medevac. A 25-foot Mexican fishing boat, also known as a lancha, was spotted by a civilian aircraft fishing 30 miles offshore and 72 miles north of the U.S./Mexican border at approximately 2 p.m. The aircraft immediately notified Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, who launched an aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to identify and pursue the lancha. The aircrew coordinated with the Cutter Cobia to intercept as the lancha began to flee south toward Mexican waters.

30 May 2014

USCG Medevacs Man from Fishing Boat

Image: USCG

A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) aircrew hoisted a 26-year-old man suffering with head pains from a fishing boat, Thursday, the USCG reported. At 3:45 p.m., watchstanders at Sector Corpus Christi received a distress report from the captain of the fishing boat Cap’n Willy, located 57 miles offshore of Port Aransas, stating that one of their crewmembers was suffering from a severe headache. The USCG launched an aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and an aircrew aboard an HU-25 Falcon…

31 May 2014

Coast Guard Forces Back Illegal Mexican Fisherman

A patrolling Coast Guard aircrew spotted, pursued and compelled a lancha across the U.S./Mexican border, Friday, after the lancha was spotted poaching in U.S waters. At 2:30 p.m., a Coast Guard aircrew aboard an HU-25 Falcon aircraft spotted the 25-foot lancha fishing 45 miles offshore of Port Isabel and 7 miles north of the U.S./Mexican border. The aircrew immediately notified Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, and pursued the vessel south, forcing it across the border. The Coast Guard Cutter Cobia, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat, also pursued the lancha, but was unable to intercept it. The Cobia is currently searching for any longline gear the lancha may have laid. The Coast Guard is continuing its efforts in conjunction with Operation Sea Serpent.

07 Jul 2014

Tankship Man Overboard Search in GofM

Coast Guard crews and the tankship Elia are searching for one of the vessel's crew members off Port Aransas, Texas. The USCG informs that missing is the chief engineer, a 47-year-old Russian man. After searching throughout the ship, the crew of the 800-foot Liberian flagged tanker called the Coast Guard for help on Sunday. They reported that the chief engineer had been seen around 10:10 a.m., but did not show up after being requested at 10:30 a.m. They were about 20 miles offshore, en route to the Port Aransas anchorage. Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston watchstanders responded to the call and Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders began…

30 Jul 2014

Pumps Reach Sinking Shrimper Just in Time

The Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi Command Center received a distress call from the 68-foot-long shrimping vessel Huachinango (“wha-chin-ahn-go”), taking on water 37 miles offshore of Baffin Bay. The three people aboard activated two de-watering pumps and started to keep pace with the flooding in the engine compartment. However, the flooding quickly covered the lower half of the engine room and they had difficulty keeping power for the pumps with their generator. The Coast Guard Cutter Brant, an 87-foot patrol boat on patrol offshore, and an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew from Sector Corpus Christi were dispatched to assist. The helicopter arrived on scene first and lowered their rescue swimmer and a de-watering pump to assist the flooded vessel.

07 Aug 2014

Video: USCG Medevacs Tanker Captain

Image: USCG

A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter crew medevaced the captain of a tanker approximately 50 miles offshore of Corpus Christi Wednesday morning. Watch the video here. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi command center were notified Tuesday at approximately 4:30 p.m. that the 50-year-old captain of the Weser, a 422-foot oil and chemical tanker vessel was experiencing severe pain in his leg with a possible blood clot. A Coast Guard flight surgeon concurred with the need for medevac.