COAST GUARD AIR STATIONS ACCEPTING THE TRAGIC CHALLENGE

This article tells the story of the Coast Guard's search and rescue (SAR) operation undertaken on February 28, 2004, in response to an explosion and call for help from a 570-foot chemical tanker ship. The author describes the cargo of the tanker ship, which was carrying 11,000 metric tons of ethanol, as well as 200,000 gallons of fuel, and how that cargo complicated the SAR operation. Although the end result included saving 7 crewman from the tanker, numerous Coast Guard officers were hospitalized from the accumulated effects of the ethanol/fuel mixture that was in and on the water. The author describes the use of helicopter rescue hoisting equipment, the help of Good Samaritans (civilian vessels in the vicinity of the stricken ship's position), night vision goggles, and the organization of the rescue scene. The multi-day search included 30 separate search patterns covering more than 70 square nautical miles of ocean and involved more than 3,500 man-hours and 80 Coast Guard SAR professionals.

• Record URL:
  http://uscg.mil/proceedings/archive/2004/Vol61_No3_Fall2004.pdf
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/15479676
• Authors:
  • Frawley, M
• Publication Date: 2004

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 10-14
• Serial:
  • Coast Guard Journal of Safety at Sea, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council
  • Volume: 61
  • Issue Number: 3
  • ISSN: 1547-9676

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chemical tankers; Coasts; Emergency management; Lifesaving; Management and organization; Oil tankers; Personnel; Search and rescue operations
• Identifier Terms: United States Coast Guard
• Uncontrolled Terms: Coast guard personnel
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00985172
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 31 2005 12:00AM