COAST GUARD REMEMBERS CAPE COD HELICOPTER CREW LOST AT SEA

This evening, after coming home and posting the previous blog about the New England Boat Show, I opened my email. While at the show, I had a chance to talk with the Weymouth Harbormaster, who was at the booth for the Massachusetts Harbor Master Association. In recalling some of the recent events off the New England Shore, we commented on the bravery of the men and women in our Coast Guard. They go offshore under some of the toughest conditions in their rescue operations.

Well, there in the email, was the following release made today:
Press Release
Date: Feb 17, 2007
Air Station Cape Cod Public Affairs

"SANDWICH, Mass. - Today, Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod remembered four shipmates who died in 1979. A wreath was dropped into the sea from a Coast Guard HH-60 helicopter in remembrance of the crew of the HH-3F Pelican helicopter, the CG1432. The Pelican crew was lost February 18th, 1979 during a rescue attempt 260 miles southeast of Cape Cod. While attempting to perform a medical evacuation from a Japanese fishing vessel, the weather started to deteriorate. The helicopter lost power and was forced to land on the water. The heavy seas quickly overturned the downed aircraft and only one crewmember was able to escape. Each year, the members of Air Station Cape Cod remember their fellow Coast Guardsmen lost nearly 30 years ago, by laying a wreath at a memorial on the air station or in the sea.
Editor's Note: Video of the wreath being dropped from the helicopter can be viewed HERE "

New England Boat Show Opens at New Venue

The New England Boat Show opened today at the Boston Convention and Convention Center. This is the first year that this Boston show is being held here. The boat show will run from February 17th thru the 24th. We were here today at the opening of the show at 11 a.m., as volunteers for the booth of District 12 of the United States Power Squadron. Each day of the show will be covered by a different squadron, and opening day was the responsibility of Quincy Bay Sail and Power Squadron.
(USPS is the nation's oldest private boating organization, devoted to teaching safe boating to the public and it's members.) The term "squadron" is used to describe the local clubs or units.
Our purpose is to make the public aware of our organization, come to our public boating classes, and perhaps join us as members. At Quincy Bay, our next public classes will start on February 26th at Braintree High.



The boat show seemed well attended. As the day progressed, the crowd increased.

In addition to the many power boats at the show ,

the height of the exhibit hall allowed the sailboats headroom to display their sails.

There were some interesting characters at the show.





We had a good time at the boat show. At the Power Squadron booth we had the opportunity to meet people inerested in boating. Some had recently purchased their first boat and are anxious to learn how to enjoy boating. I believe some of them will be students for our classes.
We also saw some longtime boating friends. It's always a refreshing break, in the middle of our New England weather, to go to the boat show and look foward to spring!

Coast Guard Attaches Marker Buoy to Drifting Creole Belle

In a statement released this afternoon by the Coast Guard, we learned the following information:

BOSTON—The fishing vessel Creole Belle, whose crew was airlifted by a Coast Guard helicopter Thursday evening, remains disabled and adrift about 65 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass., today.

An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod deployed a Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoy (SLDMB) about 10:20 a.m. today. The buoy is attached to the Creole Belle and transmits its location via satellite to the Coast Guard. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England continues to issue a Safety Marine Information Broadcast alerting mariners operating in the vicinity of the Creole Belle.
Initially the Campbell was going to tow the Creole Belle towards Martha’s Vineyard . However, 12 to 14-foot seas and 30-knot winds prevented Campbell from safely taking the vessel in tow. The Coast Guard is working with the vessel owners to determine their intentions.
A Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene with the Creole Belle about 7:45 p.m. Thursday night to hoist the three crewmen, George Bemaranbille of East Freetown, Mass., Michael O'Niel of Little Compton, R.I., and Kevin Mello, as well as two Coast Guardsmen from the Campbell who were injured while attempting to pass a towline.

The helicopter crew was unable to safely hoist the Creole Belle crewmen from their vessel, so they instructed the crewmen, who were wearing survival suits, to enter the water, one person at a time, upon the helicopter’s signal. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Petty Officer 2nd Class Chuck Ferrante entered the water from the helicopter and assisted each Creole Belle crewman into the basket to be hoisted by the helicopter. Ferrante repeated this process until all three crewmen were safely inside the helicopter.
“It was challenging because a big wave would come and the basket would drop 10-feet or so,” said Ferrante.


Additionaly, the Coast Guard provided a link to a video taken from their helicopter, on the scene.

Aircraft Carrier J. F. Kennedy to Visit Boston Before Decommisioning

The Navy Air Craft Carrier J. F. Kennedy will pay a visit to the city of Boston, Massachusett on March 1 - March 8. This will be her last visit before returning to Mayport, Jacksonville Florida, to be decommissioned.
From the Navy's official description of her, the ship is of the John F. Kennedy Class and is refered to as "Big John". The USS John F. Kennedy is conventionally powered by eight boilers, four geared steam turbines, and four shaft. Together they deliver 289,000 shaft horsepower. Built by the Newport News Shipyard, she was commissioned in 1968. The length of the ship is 1052 feet, beam of 130 feet, and a flight deck that is 252 feet wide. With an approximate displacement of 82,000 tons full, the ship is capapble of 30+ knots (34.5 m.p.h) speed and can carry a compliment of approximaely 80 aircraft.

During her stay in Boston, there will be times scheduled for the Kennedy to be open to the public.

Coast Guard Suspends Search for Luck Lady and Crew

Late this afternoon, the Coast Guard announced that it had suspended the search for the Lucky Lady, missing southeast of Portland Maine, with a crew of two. This was a great disappointment for them , as it was just on January 29th that the search for the remainder of the crew of the Lady Grace was suspended. That vessel had sunk on January 26, approximately 11 miles north of Nantucket. In that incident, only the the body of the Captain was discovered, on board the sunken vessel.

In its' press release, "The Coast Guard reminds the New England fishing community that the North Atlantic is a dangerous and unpredictable environment, and to be mindful of the dangers inherent to their work. "

These stories are in contrast to the events in January when 3 fisherman from the Gertrude H. were successfully rescued after their ship sunk in Rhode Island Sound.

This should make us all aware of the tough way of life for those who go off shore and fish for a living, as well as the men and women of our Coast Guard.

View Search Patterns for Lady Luck

The Coast Guard has released a link to an animation of the patterns that had been conducted up to 2 a.m. November 2007, in the search to locate the Lady Luck.

COAST GUARD WARNS MARINERS AND BRACES FOR WINTER STORM

The Coast Guard issued this special weather statement this morning:


"COAST GUARD WARNS MARINERS AND BRACES FOR WINTER STORM

BOSTON - Numerous Coast Guard units throughout New England are pre-staging their crews and equipment today in anticipation of an off-shore storm that is expected to arrived today and generate 17-foot seas and 40-knot winds by Saturday.

In an effort to inform mariners of the approaching storm, Coast Guard shore units are issuing safety broadcast via VHF/FM radio. Additionally, HU-25 Falcon jets from Air Station Cape Cod are providing storm information to off-shore mariners.

Coastal and off-shore Coast Guard cutters have also augmented their status to an increased readiness.

Mariners are encouraged to closely monitor channel 16 VHF/FM for updated storm information. For more marine weather information please visit this link from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "

At the same time, the search for the fishing vessel Lady Luck continues off the Maine Coast. The Coast Guard has released a link to view the search patterns that have been conducted.

Fishing Vessel "Lady Luck" Missing off Maine Coast

The fishing vessel Lady Luck has been reported missing. The boat was approximately 12 miles out to sea, south of Portland Maine. The Lady Luck is out of Newburyport, Mass and is thought to have a crew of two onboard. The Coast Guard spotted an oil slick and debris near the location of the distress signal. The distress signal came from the EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). The Coast Guard has sent the cutters Seneca and Flying Fish from Boston to search the area, alog with the Marcus Hanna from Portland. Aircraft from the Naval Air Station in Brunswick, Me., and Air Station Cape Cod have also been assisting the search. The Coast Guard has distributed a pictured of the Lady Luck