Coast Guard Medevacs Mariner from Cargo Vessel

An Air Station Kodiak Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, forward deployed to the Bering Sea region, medevaced an ill crewman from the bulk carrier Jamaica Bay 92 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Tuesday.

The Dolphin crew hoisted the 37-year-old Chinese mariner, who was reportedly suffering from severe abdominal distress, and transported him safely to awaiting emergency medical personnel in Dutch Harbor for treatment.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 17th District command center in Juneau received a medevac request from the crew of the vessel early Tuesday morning. The Jamaica Bay, more than 356 miles west of Dutch Harbor at the time of the request, was outside the range of the Dolphin. The watchstanders directed the crew of the bulk carrier to alter course toward Dutch Harbor. The Dolphin crew launched from Dutch Harbor once the vessel was in range and hoisted the mariner aboard.

“We routinely forward deploy our helicopter crews to the Bering Sea region to minimize our response time to emergencies,” said Chief Petty Officer Christopher Cole, an operations specialist and watchstander at the Coast Guard 17th District command center. “The helicopter crew was in the right position and was able to quickly respond and transport the mariner to a higher level medical care.”

The Jamaica Bay is a 537-foot freight bulk carrier flagged out of Hong Kong.

uscgnews.com