Tag Archives: search and rescue
UK Sea Kings get new inspection regeime
USS San Antonio rescues 128 refugees from raft in Mediterranean
BZ to the men & women aboard the San Antonio.
USS San Antonio Responds to Persons in Distress Near Malta
NAPLES, Italy (NNS) — At the request of the Maltese government, the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) rendered assistance Oct. 16 to persons in distress at sea in the central Mediterranean.
131016-N-ZZ999-001 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Oct. 16, 2013) Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17) rescued 128 to persons in distress at sea in the central Mediterranean Oct. 16. San Antonio was more than 60 nautical miles away when she was directed to assist, arriving on scene at approximately 6 p.m. local time. The men, between the ages of 20 and 30, were provided food, water, medical attention, and temporary shelter aboard the Norfolk, Va.-based ship. (RELEASED/U.S. Navy photo)
Winds and seas were rocking the raft when it was spotted by a Maltese patrol aircraft. Shortly thereafter, the Maltese government contacted several ships in the area, as well as U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, and requested assistance in rescuing the distressed persons.
San Antonio was a little more than 60 nautical miles away when she was directed to assist, and arrived on scene at approximately 6 p.m. local time. Soon after, her crew began transferring the individuals using two 11-man rigid hull inflatable boats.
In all, 128 men between the ages of 20 and 30 were rescued from the raft. San Antonio provided food, water, medical attention, and temporary shelter to all.
Assistance efforts were ongoing as this story was updated at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
VIDEO: Auxiliary Coastguards (1978)
It’s all about the littorals… Rolls Royce unveils OPV design
Rolls Royce unveils its new patrol vessel (to be available in 55, 75 and 90-metre flavours). The new vessels will be in direct competition with of the BAE Systems OPV, the National Security Cutter and the Navantia BAM. It a world where littoral warfare, counter-piracy and counter-narcotics operations are increasingly part of of a modern navy’s operational demand, a well-designed OPV is arguably better “bang for your buck” than the LCS or an undersized frigate.
Rolls-Royce unveils new maritime patrol vessel design
Rolls-Royce has unveiled a new design of maritime patrol craft at the Defence & Security Event International (DSEI) in London.
Rolls-Royce unveils new maritime patrol vessel design
The first of a ‘protection vessel family’ of designs, is a new 55-metre craft featuring a range of equipment from Rolls-Royce (stabilisers, thrusters, steering gear, fixed pitch propellers) and MTU (diesels, diesel generators, Callosum IPMS), offering a cost-effective design that can be tailored to mission requirements.
Weighing around 500 tonnes, the new vessel is suited to patrol, search and rescue and interception duties. A 90-metre version of the craft will be on offer by the end of the year, with a 75-metre design following in 2014.
Garry Mills, Rolls-Royce, Chief of Naval Ship Design, said: “Coastal protection and offshore patrol vessels is a growing sector and this new design offers multi-purpose capability, incorporating core design elements that are replicated across the family of vessels.
“Our customers often face short timescales in the procurement of this type of craft, and having a scalable, cost effective offering is essential.
“There is a growing trend of commercial marine technology crossing into naval markets as governments seek cost reduction through proven capability. Naval vessels generally comprise many disparate and complex technologies, and that’s what Rolls-Royce, with its broad product base, is good at integrating bespoke whole-ship systems to minimise programme risk.”
Building on its success in the commercial marine market, Rolls-Royce established its Bristol-based naval ship design team last year which is focused on four key naval vessel types – naval auxiliaries, offshore/coastal patrol vessels, fast attack craft and naval ice-breakers.
http://www.rolls-royce.com/news/press_releases/2013/06092013_patrol_vessel_design.jsp
Russia opens Arctic SAR centre on Northern Sea Route
Naryan-Mar is located north of the Arctic Circle on the Pechora River, 68-miles (110 kilometers) upstream its mouth on the Barents Sea.
Russia opens first Arctic search and rescue center
Deputy Minister of EMERCOM Aleksander Chupriyan opening the first Russian SAR center in Naryan-Mar, Nenets (Photo: Andrey Vokuev)
NARYAN_MAR: The first of a total of ten search and rescue centers along the Northern Sea Route has opened in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
With increased traffic on the Northern Sea Route comes the need for more onshore safety infrastructure. Russia in 2009 allocated 910 million rubles (app €20.6 million) to construction of ten search and rescue (SAR) centers from Murmansk in the west to Provideniya in the East. All centers are planned to be operational by 2015.
The first of the new SAR centers was officially opened in Naryan-Mar on August 20 by Nenets Governor Igor Fyodorov and Deputy Minister of EMERCOM Aleksander Chupriyan.
The center includes a fire department, a department for search and rescue operations with vehicles and boats, a berth and training facilities.
Similar rescue centers will open in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Dudinka, Pevek, Vorkuta, Nadym, Anadyr, Tiksi and Provideniye.
See photos from EMERCOM facilities in Naryan-Mar, Dudinka and Arkhangelsk:
The SAR center in Naryan-Mar hosts the region’s first EMERCOM cadet class. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver
Governor of Nenets Autonomous Okrug Igor Fyodorov openinge the SAR center in Naryan-Mar. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver
The center in Naryan-Mar is the first of ten centers that will open along the Northern Sea Route. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver
EMERCOM representatives in Naryan-Mar. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver
Construction of the new SAR center in Naryan-Mar started in December 2010. Andrey Vokuev / BarentsObserver
Search and rescue facilities in Arkhangelsk on the banks of the Dvina river. Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver
Search and rescue facilities in Dudinka on the inlet of the Yenisei river. Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver
EMERCOM vehicle in Dudinka. Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver
EMERCOM worker in Dudinka. Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver
4 confirmed dead in Shetland helicopter crash
The next time you complain about the cost of filling your tank, think on. People die to bring you the black gold.
RNLI lifeboats involved in rescue operation following North Sea helicopter crash
Volunteer lifeboat crew members from two Shetland lifeboat stations have spent the night involved in a multi-agency rescue operation after a helicopter crashed in the North Sea.
The RNLI lifeboats from Aith and Lerwick were both launched yesterday evening (23 August) at the request of the Coastguard, following reports that a helicopter had ditched into the sea west of Sumburgh airport on the Shetland Isles.
It is believed the helicopter, a Super Puma L2 helicopter, was carrying 16 passengers and two crew from the Borgsten Dolphin oil platform in the North Sea and was operated by CHC for Total, taking people to and from oil and gas platforms.
Both lifeboats made their way to the scene throughout the evening and assisted in the search for passengers with other agencies, including two rescue helicopters, a passenger ferry and a cargo vessel.
Whilst the lifeboats were still making their way to the scene, 14 people were rescued. Once on scene both lifeboats assisted in the search for four people that were unaccounted for.
Earlier today (Saturday 24 August) Police Scotland confirmed that three bodies had been recovered, two of which were recovered by Lerwick RNLI lifeboat and taken to a nearby pier. Work is now underway to recover the fourth deceased person.
A spokesman for the RNLI said: ‘Sadly the bodies of three people have been recovered in the aftermath of yesterday’s crash, and we know that agencies are working to recover the body of the fourth person. We can confirm that the RNLI lifeboat crew from Lerwick lifeboat station recovered two of those people. The lifeboat crew transported them to Sumburgh and we are liaising with other authorities as things develop.
‘Obviously this is the news that everyone, included our lifeboat volunteers, dreaded – our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those four people. We can also confirm that one of our lifeboats has also been involved in reclaiming wreckage from the scene as part of the operation.’
The wreckage of the helicopter had been situated in a fairly inaccessible position near cliffs, and weather conditions at the time was described as not particularly good. Lerwick RNLI lifeboat managed to tow the wreckage off rocks and it was being held in the shelter of a bay until a recovery operation could commence.
Media enquiries can be addressed to Police Scotland press office on 01224 306436.
Submarine Rescue and Salvage Procedures (1970)
International Maritime Organization 2013 Awards for Exceptional Bravery at Sea
Two USCG rescue swimmers who saved the lives of 14 crew members when the vintage sailing ship HMS Bounty sank in October 2012 are among those to be honoured with the International Maritime Organization’s annual Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
US rescue swimmers and a Chinese seafarer are winners of 2013 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea
Council: 110th session – 15 to 19 July 2013
Briefing: 32, July 22, 2013
The 2013 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea will be awarded to two rescue swimmers from the United States of America, for saving the lives of 14 crew members from the tall ship HMS Bounty, and, posthumously, to a seafarer from China who died trying to save the life of a ferry passenger.
The IMO Council, meeting for its 110th session in London, decided that the 2013 award will go to Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Randy J. Haba and Aviation Survival Technician Third Class Daniel J. Todd of the United States Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, nominated by the Government of the United States, for saving the lives of 14 crew members from the tall ship HMS Bounty, during Hurricane Sandy. The Council also agreed to bestow the 2013 Award posthumously on Mr. Jinguo Yang, a crewmember on the ferry Tong Chang Qi Du 11, nominated by the Government of China, who gave his own life whilst trying to rescue a person in distress on the ferry, after it had collided with the cargo ship Shun Qiang 28.
Aviation Survival Technicians Randy J. Haba and Daniel J. Todd
Aviation Survival Technicians Haba and Todd were despatched on board two Coast Guard Rescue Helicopters, CG-6012 and CG-6031, from United States Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, responding to a distress alert from HMS Bounty, during the pre-dawn hours of 29 October 2012.
After flying through the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy, in strong winds and torrential rain, they encountered the ship, partially submerged with a large debris field, surrounded by life rafts.
Rescue Helicopter CG-6012 was the first to arrive at the scene, and AST Haba was lowered into the stormy waters. He spent an hour battling strong currents and 10 metre waves, in the wind and rain, taking survivors from the life rafts to the waiting rescue basket, overcoming exhaustion and fatigue. At one point, he was engulfed by a huge wave that knocked his mask off, severely restricting his vision and further hampering his tremendous efforts. AST Haba demonstrated the utmost determination and perseverance, performing two more rescues without the use of a mask. He exhibited exceptional strength and endurance throughout the entire rescue.
Rescue Helicopter CG-6031 arrived 30 minutes after CG-6012, and AST Todd was immediately deployed into the turbulent sea to begin the task of reaching another life raft. He began retrieving each of the survivors from the raft and delivering them to the rescue basket. Whilst he was assisting the second survivor into the rescue basket, a large wave toppled the life raft containing the four remaining survivors. Todd immediately secured a handhold on the sea anchor to stabilize his position. His strength and ingenuity expedited the rescue of the six survivors and his action saved valuable time. This enabled him to reposition himself to a second life raft, containing three additional survivors, whom he also successfully rescued.
Both men overcame the effects of cold, fatigue and ingesting sea water to deliver 14 crew members of HMS Bounty to safety.
Mr. Jinguo Yang (posthumous award)On 15 March 2012, the ferry Tong Chang Qi Du 11 collided with the cargo ship Shun Qiang 28 on the Yangtze river. The ferry’s hull was damaged and it started sinking with 33 persons on board, 31 of whom were subsequently saved during the search and rescue operation and transferred to a rescue ship. One passenger was trapped in his truck, which had been severely damaged in the collision.One of the rescued crew members, Mr. Jinguo Yang, 55, jumped back onto the sinking ferry and attempted, unsuccessfully, to prize open the jammed door of the truck in order to rescue the trapped passenger. Unfortunately, the ferry lost its stability and capsized. Mr. Jinguo Yang was unable to save the passenger’s life; indeed, in trying to do so, he lost his own. Although he had the opportunity to escape at the last moment, he chose instead, at the cost of his own life, to stay and attempt to rescue the trapped passenger.The Council unanimously endorsed the decision of a Panel of Judges that these were the worthy recipients of the Bravery Award for 2013, from a total of 34 nominations, received from 10 Member States and two non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO.The Council also decided that, of the other nominees or groups of nominees, six should receive Certificates of Commendation and 12 should receive Letters of Commendation.The Awards ceremony will take place at IMO Headquarters, on Monday, 25 November 2013, at the end of the first day of the 28th Assembly of IMO.
Naval Matters 