Lake Erie Coast Guard Has Busy Thursday Morning With Rescues

CLEVELAND — Coast Guard crews from Lake Erie units rescued and assisted several boaters during three search-and-rescue cases Thursday morning.

The names and hometowns of the rescued are not being released, and there is no Coast Guard imagery available.

At 12:20 a.m. Thursday, a search-and-rescue controller at Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, N.Y., received a mayday call over VH-FM marine radio but did not receive any responses to calls for more information. The controller also received notification of two flares seen near Cleveland Harbor.  The SAR controller began issuing urgent marine information broadcasts over marine radio, asking all boaters in the area to keep a lookout for anyone in distress.

A rescue boatcrew launched from Coast Guard Cleveland Harbor, in Cleveland, aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium.  The SAR controller was contacted by a member of Cleveland Marine Towing, Inc., who stated they were en route to assist a disabled vessel with six people aboard in Cleveland Harbor. It was determined they were the same boaters who made the mayday call and launched the flares. The vessel was disabled but not in distress and was towed to safety by the Cleveland Marine Towing crew.

“The Coast Guard determined the boaters did not respond to their callbacks on marine radio channel 16, the international hailing and distress frequency, because the boaters were switching channels and making further distress calls,” said Capt. Andrew Sugimoto, 9^th Coast Guard District chief of response. “It is important that mariners take advantage of boating safety training and learn how to use their equipment.”

During outreach in support of National Safe Boating Week, held May 18-24, the Coast Guard promoted boater education and required and recommended safety equipment. Click here to search public education classes in your area, put on by the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

At 12:30 a.m., Thursday morning, a search-and-rescue controller at Coast Guard Sector Buffalo received a report of an overdue vessel from the parents of a 15-year-old girl who was boating with a 56-year-old man in Lake Erie near Sheffield, Ohio. The girl’s parents reported that she called them and said the man was disoriented, did not know their location, and was under the influence of alcohol.

A rescue boatcrew launched from Coast Guard Station Lorain, Ohio, aboard a 25-foot Response Boat-Small. The RB-S crew located the vessel outside of Lorain Harbor and towed it to the Hot Waters Marina in Lorain, where the girl was turned over to her parents. The Coast Guard boarding officer issued the boater a citation for gross negligence and boating under the influence after he was administered a breath analysis test and had a blood alcohol content of .153. The legal limit for boating in Ohio waters is .08.

During National Safe Boating Week, the Coast Guard warned the public of the dangers of drinking and boating and also asked boaters to be vigilant and report any behavior that could impact public safety or security on our nation's waterways.

“The Coast Guard depends on boaters to report any potential threats to public safety or property,” said Sugimoto. “Anyone who witnesses any safety or security concerns should reach out to the Coast Guard or call 911.”

At 8 a.m., Thursday morning, a search-and-rescue controller at Coast Guard Sector Buffalo received a report of a man in the water in Cleveland Harbor. A rescue boatcrew launched from Station Cleveland Harbor, aboard a 25-foot Response Boat-Small and rescued the man. He reported he fell off of a ladder attached to a pier in the East 55^th Street Marina in Cleveland Harbor. The man was taken by emergency medical services to Metro Hospital in Cleveland.

The Coast Guard reminds people to practice caution when recreating near the water, something else we stressed during National Safe Boating Week.

Busy Memorial Day Weekend

HOUSTON — A large influx of swimmers and boaters led to multiple search and rescue cases for Coast Guard crews and Houston-area response agencies this Memorial Day weekend.

In total, 10 search and rescue cases were logged from Friday to Monday, which tragically included four drownings. A summary of some of the efforts are:

Sector Houston/Galveston command center staff managed 10 search and rescue cases and 11 marine safety cases
Air Station Houston helicopter crews conducted more than 33 search-and-rescue flight hours
Station Freeport crewmembers conducted more than 27 search-and-rescue hours
Station Sabine towed a mariner’s disabled vessel to safety after they drifted too close to rocks near North Levy Road in Sabine Lake.
"In a two-day span the Coast Guard responded to four drowning deaths," said Lt. Spencer Roach, a command duty officer at Sector Houston/Galveston. “It is truly heartbreaking to see these patterns repeated every holiday weekend and underscores the need for constant vigilance while around the water. The Coast Guard operates the most sophisticated and accurate search-planning technology available, but even the best searches can't help you if you lack the basic safety gear such as life jackets, which will help you survive until we get there."

Many maritime incidents and deaths are preventable and with boating season well underway, the Coast Guard urges all boaters and mariners to do the following before heading out on the water:

Wear a life jacket at all times
File a float plan with family members or friends letting them know where you are headed and when you plan to be back
Check the weather prior to departing the dock
Have a marine band radio and visual distress signals on board
Have a registered 406MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Have a Personal Locator Beacon
Do not boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Beach goers should follow additional precautions before entering the water. Don't swim alone and always swim where lifeguards are present. Pay close attention to and heed beach warning flags and signs.

For more information on beach safety, check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's site on rip currents at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

For more information on boating safety please visit the Coast Guard's boating safety website at www.uscgboating.org.

Spring Is Here, Coast Guard Urges Safe Boating

BOSTON — In light of spring temperatures, the Coast Guard emphasizes safety for recreational boaters and paddlers planning to venture out on the inland and coastal waters of the Northeast this spring.

The rescues of two kayakers on Sunday by Coast Guard crews and additional first responders serve as reminders that boating season in the Northeast is just around the corner and all boaters should practice maritime safety measures while out on the water.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Coast Guard Sector Boston received a report of a capsized orange kayak with one person in the water in the vicinity of Bumpkin Island, Mass. Coast Guard Station Point Allerton, Mass. launched a 47-Motor Life Boat crew along with Hingham, Mass., and Hull, Mass., Harbormasters. Station Point Allerton rescued the kayaker and transferred him to local EMS. The kayaker was wearing a lifejacket.

Also on Sunday, watch standers at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, in New Haven, Conn., received a report of a capsized kayak with one person in the water at Short Beach in Nissequogue River near Smithtown, N.Y. Crews from Coast Guard Station Eaton's Neck, in Northport, N.Y., the local park service, fire department, and Suffolk County Police Department responded. The fire department's boat rescued the kayaker and transferred him to the local hospital for examination.

"The warmer weather can create a false sense of security," said Walt Taylor, Recreational Boating Safety Manager for the 1st Coast Guard District. "Though the air is warm, the water is still very cold, and in the event of a capsize hypothermia can quickly set in."

Some safe boating tips to remember are:

Dress for the water temperature. Though the air may be warm, the water is still cold. Wet suits and dry suits offer protection against hyperthermia in the event of a capsize or immersion in the water.
Check all required safety equipment to be sure it is in good working order. The Coast Guard Auxiliary provides free vessel safety exams. Contact your nearest flotilla for more information.
File a float plan before getting underway.
Be sure to have U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets aboard. All boaters and paddlers are encouraged to wear their lifejackets while underway.