Emergency Medical Service News

Twelve stowaways were found on a barge in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received notification from a Coast Guard Station San Juan boat crew at 8:34 a.m., Saturday, of a possible stowaway sighting aboard the barge that was being towed by the U.S.-registered tugboat Sarah Dann.Coast Guard Sector San Juan’s Boarding Team responded to the report and found nine stowaways aboard the barge, including one who was unresponsive. The unresponsive stowaway was reported to be breathing and have vital signs.

An ailing crewmember was medevaced from a 400-foot accommodation barge Monday, approximately 140 nautical miles south of Ponce, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a call from the DB Superior Performance barge reporting a medical emergency for a 46-year-old crewmember who was experiencing possible cardiac distress and required specialized medical care ashore. At the time of the emergency, the tugboat Crosby Leader was towing…

A crewmember suffering from abdominal pain was medevaced from the 653-feet bulk carrier ship Yasa Jupiter Saturday, approximately 60 nautical miles northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Coast Guard said its watchstanders at Sector San Juan received the medevac request from the Marshall Islands flagged ship on Friday night.The Yasa Jupiter was sailing from Morocco to Panama, approximately 360 nautical miles northeast of Puerto Rico, outside the range of responding rescue helicopters…

Four people were rescued from a commercial fishing vessel that sank in Coos Bay, Ore. on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The 40-foot Darean Rose capsized and sank shortly after leaving the fuel pier at the Charleston Marina with four people aboard who reported sustaining minor injuries.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend were notified at 2:54 p.m. that the vessel had run aground and capsized right after departing the pier.A Coast Guard Station Coos Bay 29-foot Response…

An ailing U.S. Coast Guard crew member aboard the Cutter John Midgett has been airlifted and transported to emergency medical service personnel in Kodiak, Alaska, the Coast Guard said.At 10 a.m. on Saturday, District 17 Command Center watchstanders received a call from the 378-foot high endurance cutter requesting a medevac for the 40-year-old male who was reportedly experiencing symptoms of a stroke. The ship was approximately 150 nautical miles southeast of Kodiak when the medevac request came in.At 12:54 p.m.…

A cruise ship passenger who went overboard near the Strait of Juan de Fuca has been pronounced dead.The U.S. Coast Guard said the 73-year-old male was unresponsive when he was recovered by a helicopter rescue crew from the water near the west coast Canada/U.S. border.The overboard passenger was transferred to local Emergency Medical Service personnel waiting on shore and then to the Olympic Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased.Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Command…

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew medevaced an injured Chinese crewmember from a bulk carrier Tuesday night in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 175 nautical miles northeast of Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan received the medevac request at 5 p.m., Monday from the Panamanian-flagged Bunun Hero for a crewmember who sustained multiple broken bones and a head injury after falling from a crane onboard the ship.The 587-foot Bunun Hero was en route to Europe and approximately 525 nautical miles northeast of Puerto Rico…

Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews rescued two divers and a minor during two unrelated cases Thursday in Fajardo and Vieques, Puerto Rico. The first rescue came when Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a 911 call Thursday afternoon reporting four children and two adults had been pulled away from shore by strong currents at “Playa Escondida” in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. The crew of a Coast Guard helicopter diverted to the scene, located the people in distress and deployed their rescue swimmer to hoist one of the children from the water. The Coast Guard aircrew safely transferred the minor to shore, and confirmed that the other five people were able to swim safely to shore.

A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a 51-year-old man, early Thursday morning from a fishing vessel approximately 45-miles south of Montauk. Watchstanders at Sector Long Island Sound command center received notification at approximately 2 a.m., on VHF-FM channel 16 from the master of the vessel who was suffering severe stomach pains. The watchstanders notified the Coast Guard flight surgeon who recommended a medevac for the man to receive medical care within four hours. The crew safely transported him to T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island, where emergency medical service personnel transferred him to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. The man is reported to be in stable condition.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew medevaced a man Wednesday afternoon from the 392-foot Maltese-flagged tank ship Emek-S, approximately 28 nautical miles southwest of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a call from the captain of the Emek-S at 3:08 p.m. stating that a crewmember, who was a Turkish citizen, had lost part of his left hand's middle finger two hours earlier. The watchstanders notified the Air Station Borinquen flight surgeon…

U.S. Coast Guard Station Jones Beach crewmembers swam to shore after their rescue boat capsized in rough waters near East Rockaway Inlet, today. At approximately 2 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound Command Center received an urgent distress call from the 76-foot scallop fishing vessel, Carolina Queen III, that had been taking on water with seven mariners aboard. Shortly after, the master reported the vessel was under control and had run aground near the East Rockaway Inlet. Coast Guard Station Jones Beach launched a 25-foot Response Boat Small to assist. The inlet water produced 10- to 12-foot waves and the vessel capsized. The five crewmembers aboard swam safely to shore. The Coast Guard vessel ran aground and is currently secured on the beach.

DigiGone, a communication solution provider specializing in secure video transmission, introduced its new remote telemedicine kits for marine, aviation and land-based applications. Based on DigiGone’s proprietary SecureChat video encryption and compression software, the new DigiMed kits provide real-time teleconferencing with emergency medical service professionals using satellite or terrestrial wireless links, enabling a face-to-face consult between patient and doctor. The DigiMed telemedicine kits are suited for ships…

Fireboat to be Equipped with Six Fire Monitors and 26 Manifold Valves for High-Volume Water and/or Foam Firefighting. Jensen Maritime Consultants, Inc., a Crowley company, has been chosen to design a custom "super pumper" fireboat to enhance the City of San Francisco Fire Department's (SFFD) marine fire fighting and response capabilities on water. This high-volume water and foam pumping NFPA Type II fireboat will feature six fire monitors and 26 manifold valves, allowing for more than 16…

Crowley Maritime Corporation presented U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Midshipman Kevin Kinsella with the Maritime Security Enhancement Award, during the academy's graduation awards convocation. Charles Hill, chairman of the academy's alumni foundation, presented the recognition certificate and cash award on behalf of Crowley to Kinsella. Each year, Crowley recognizes a student at USMMA who demonstrates a strong interest in a career in port, maritime or transportation security. Kinsella…

The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of a fire that occurred during the transfer of fuel on board a barge at the Citgo Bulk Storage and Distribution Facility in . A 49-year-old man from , was on board the 592-ft. barge SMT Two, operated by the Jacksonville-based company Intrepid Ship Management Inc., and was monitoring the transfer of gasoline when a fire started in a machinery space below him. The man was able to evacuate the space but suffered burns on his hands and face. He was transferred to by emergency medical service personnel. His condition is unknown. Another crewmember was able to close the space and put out the fire with installed fire-extinguishing equipment. The SMT Two arrived from , and is carrying 75,000 barrels of jet fuel and 15,000 barrels of gasoline.

Camarc, Ltd. and Kvichak Marine Industries have teamed up once again to design and build an all-aluminum 72-ft. pilot boat. The new boat, scheduled for a Summer 2002 delivery, is for the Sabine Pilots Association of Groves, Texas and will operate year-round in the waters of Sabine Pass. Power is provided by twin Detroit Diesel 16V2000 engines rated for 1,285 bhp each at 2,100 rpm, and Hamilton HM651 waterjets were chosen as the propulsors. This combination is designed to allow excellent maneuverability, a top speed of 28 knots, and a cruising speed of 26 knots. The patented "Popsafe" fendering system will be used to protect the vessel hull while boat and pilot transfers are made.

Kvichak Marine recently delivered a 40-ft. Fast Response fireboat to the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD). Designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants of Seattle, the fireboat has a beam of 13.5 ft. and is powered by twin Caterpillar 3126B engines coupled to Twin Disc MG-5075A gears, which provide a speed of ~27 knots. To optimize vessel control and firefighting capacity, LACFD chose a Cummins 6BTA5.9-M3 dedicated fire pump engine, directly coupled to a Hale 80-FC 2400 GPM pump. A Stang fire monitor provides 1000 gpm of water flow and the fireboat has a 50-gallon AR firefighting foam system. "Our mission is to protect and ensure the safety of the Marina del Ray community," said Chief Barry Nugent.

Since the 9/11 attack there has obviously been increased emphasis on getting more eyes, ears and in some cases firepower on America's ports and inland waterways. Homeland security has become a top priority for the U.S. Coast Guard and numerous other Federal, state and local agencies. Patrol boats offer a relatively low cost solution to increasing security on America's waterways and in and around ports. These vessels range from RIB's with outboard motors to aluminum-hulled craft with high horsepower diesel engines enabling them to quickly reach and maintain high speeds often required for interdiction. Fortunately America was building capable patrol boats before 9/11. The mission of these vessels prior to 9/11 was mostly drug interdiction, search and rescue and/or border security.

The Port of Los Angeles recently welcomed the arrival of Fireboat #1, the first of three 39 ft. boats constructed by Kvichak Marine Industries and designed by Jensen Maritime Consultants. Stationed at Terminal Island, California, Fireboat #1 is the first vessel to kick-off the replacement program of the Port's aging fireboat fleet. Later this year, the deliveries of Fireboat #3 & Fireboat #5 will complete the phase-out of the two remaining 35-year old boats. With a 39 ft. 3 in. overall length and a beam of 13 ft. 6in., the all-aluminum fireboat powered by twin Caterpillar 3126B engines driving 24" propellers through Twin Disc MG-5075A gears, reaches a top-end speed of ~29 knots while fully loaded.