The US Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of Niall Macdonald aboard ocean rowboat 'Alba' on June 15, 2018, after he activated his emergency position indicating radio beacon about 530 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. Niall Macdonald triggered his EPIRB around 12:30 a.m. alerting Coast Guard watchstanders to his distress. Due to sporadic connectivity, Macdonald was able to call watchstanders at the United Kingdom Mission Control Center via satellite phone. He reported facing 36 hours of rough seas causing his rowboat to take on water. He abandoned the ocean rower for his life raft. Watchstanders from the First Coast Guard District in Boston coordinated with the United Kingdom Mission Control Center to relay satellite phone messages. Coast Guard watchstanders sent out an urgent marine bulletin to vessels in the area requesting assistance and coordinated with the Rescue Coordination Center in Halifax, Canada, to launch a Canadian C-130 aircraft to assist in the rescue due to the distance offshore. Coast Guard watchstanders also coordinated with Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Rome to divert the nearby Italian Naval warship, 'Alpino', to assist in rescuing Macdonald, but the ship was 80 miles away. Responding to the urgent marine broadcast, the 'Dolfijngracht' arrived on scene with the 'Alba' at 5 a.m. and found Macdonald in a life raft, tired, but in good condition. The search and rescue cooperation between the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands resulted in saving the mariner’s life. Macdonald was taken on to the next port call Escoumins in Canada. He had an EPIRB, a personal locator beacon, satellite phone, VHF radio, navigation lights, flares, immersion suit, life jacket, and a transportable kit with other items to help him survive in an emergency. At the time of the rescue, the weather conditions were 10-foot seas and 26 knot winds.
WORLD SHIPPING
18 June 2018 - 11:14
Freighter rescued ocean rower
The US Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of Niall Macdonald aboard ocean rowboat 'Alba' on June 15, 2018, after he activated his emergency position indicating radio beacon about 530 miles off the coast of Cape Cod
WORLD SHIPPING
18 June 2018 - 11:14
This news 1405 hits received.
EDITOR
SEANEWS TURKEY MARITIME NEWS FROM THE WORLD AND TURKEY
These news may also interest you