Station Freeport News

The U.S. Coast Guard said Sunday it had rescued three boaters from an offshore oil platform after their vessel sank near Freeport, Texas, Sunday."Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report at approximately 3 a.m. from Matagorda County Sheriff's Office that three men were stranded on an offshore oil rig platform with no position after their vessel began taking on water," the U.S. Coast Guard said.Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast…

A ferry passenger who fell into the water off Galveston, Texas, was rescued on Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a report at 11:30 a.m. over VHF-FM channel 16 from personnel aboard the John W. Johnson, a nearby passenger vessel, who saw an adult male fall off the Gibb Gilchrist ferry in the vicinity of Seawolf Park.Sector Houston-Galveston command center personnel issued an urgent marine information broadcast while an already on-scene 45-foot Response Boat–Medium boat crew from Coast Guard Station Freeport diverted to assist.The RB–M boat crew located the person in the water, pulled the individual aboard and transferred the man to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at Coast Guard Station Galveston.

Four crew members have been rescued from a tugboat taking on water in the Intracoastal Waterway near Freeport, Texas, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a phone call at 6:02 a.m. on Sunday from the captain of the 52-foot tugboat Captain Mark stating the vessel was taking on water near the Brazos River Flood Gates while pushing two equipment barges. All four crewmen aboard the tugboat were wearing life jackets.The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a 29-foot Response Boat–Small crew from Station Freeport to assist.The RB–S crew arrived on scene and transferred personnel to the tugboat with a dewatering pump.

An ailing mariner was medevaced from a tanker vessel approximately 8 miles off Freeport, Texas, Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.At approximately 9:30 a.m., the tanker vessel Stolt Confidence told Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders that a crew member on board was suffering chest pains and having difficulty breathing. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac.A Coast Guard Station Freeport 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew launched to assist.The boat crew arrived on scene, embarked the man and transported him back to awaiting emergency medical services at the station.The 31-year-old mariner is said to be in stable condition.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) contracted a salvage company to remove the threat of pollution from a derelict fishing vessel that went aground Thursday, about 20 miles south of Freeport, Texas, on Sargent Beach. The captain of the vessel Lady Glenda contacted Sector Houston/Galveston watchstanders just after noon Tuesday and reported the vessel Rich listing with marine growth and drifting about 20 miles southeast of Freeport. A Station Freeport 45-foot Response Boat — Medium boatcrew located the vessel that afternoon but weren't able to go aboard due to safety concerns.

The four missing fishermen aboard their boat were found tied to a rig eight miles off Freeport at 11:30 a.m. this morning by an offshore supply ship. Crews of a Coast Guard Station Freeport rescue boat are en route to the rig to check on their status and provide assistance as needed. The four fishermen are Joey Hecox, 41, his son Steven, 9, Hecox's brother Marshall Davis, 41, and nephew Joshua Berdicanna, 25, all from the Fresno, Texas, area. They left to go fishing from Ernie's Bait Camp in Freeport aboard an 18-foot brown motorboat and when they didn't come back by 9 p.m. Sunday Hecox's wife called the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard dispatched a rescue boat from Station Freeport…

Crewmembers working on the oil rig Dularge rescued two people after their boat capsized, 12 miles south west of Freeport, Texas, on Sunday. A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston received a call from the crewmembers, stating that they had picked up two people from the water. It is unknown how long the people were in the water or what caused their boat to capsize. Coast Guard Station Freeport dispatched a rescue boat crew to pick up the people from the rig and transport them back to the station. The rescue boat is currently enroute to the Dularge.