Flares used to locate boat in hazardous conditions

06/10/2020

A fisherman was asked to fire flares after his boat ran aground off Newport, USA, in hazardous conditions and started taking on water.

Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a radio mayday call one night in September. The 44-foot commercial fishing boat ran aground on the south jetty of Newport’s Yaquina Bay.

Crews aboard a 47-foot motor lifeboat and the 52-foot motor lifeboat Victory and a ground party from Station Yaquina Bay responded.

The winds were around 35-mph, there was 10-foot breaking surf, near-zero visibility and 56-degree water temperature.

The conditions were so bad that an Air Facility Newport aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter had to return to base due to the restricted visibility and hazardous conditions.

Flares used to signal location in hazardous conditions

The mariner was asked to use flares to signal his location, which was 1.15 miles south of the Yaquina Bay jetties. The crew aboard the 47-foot motor lifeboat arrived, but was unable to approach due to shoaling.

The ground party arrived after running more than 1.5 miles from the South Beach State Park access area, carrying 500 feet of rescue line and other equipment.

The fisherman was forced to enter the water after the boat began breaking apart in 10-foot surf. Petty Officer 1st Class Wallace Qual tried to swim to him, but the mariner was swept away by surf and currents. P.O. Qual returned to shore and tried again. This time he was successful and the crew ashore pulled the two from the surf using the rescue line.

The mariner was taken to awaiting emergency medical personnel. No injuries were reported.

P.O. Wallace Qual says, “The overall teamwork that went into locating the mariner, and the communication between our crews was huge.

“When I got to him, he was wearing his survival suit and had an EPIRB and strobe light in hand. That preparedness probably saved his life.”

The Coast Guard urges all mariners to be equipped with the proper equipment. They are also advised to have a reliable means of communication in case of emergency.

The image is credit of U.S. Coast Guard photo by Station Yaquina Bay taken after the rescue. From left, BM2 Tyler Hurst, BM3 Matthew Roque, MK2 Rachel Robbins, BM1 Wallace Qual, and also BM1 Jacob Hylkema.

Proper emergency equipment can help save mariner’s lives, say US Coast Guards.