Coast Guard rescues 2 men whose boat sank 50 miles off Savannah coast

Sep 28, 2023

No injuries or medical concerns were reported, according to the Coast Guard

The Coast Guard rescued two men on Thursday whose 34-foot fishing vessel sank 50 miles off Savannah’s coast.

Coast Guard Sector Charleston watchstanders received a report from Coast Guard District Seven watchstanders of an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) activation from the fishing vessel, Lady Diane, plotting 50 miles offshore of Savannah.

District Seven watchstanders contacted the boat’s registered owner, who said the vessel was offshore fishing with approximately two people aboard.

Sector Charleston watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and attempted to contact the people on the boat with no results. An Air Station Savannah helicopter crew then flew out to the location provided by the EPIRB.

According to the Coast Guard, the responding aircrew arrived on scene, commenced searching and found two people in a life raft after they launched a flare to alert the aircrew of their position.

The aircrew hoisted the men and took them to Hunter Army Airfield, where they were met by awaiting emergency medical services personnel.

The Coast Guard said no medical concerns were reported. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

“The mariners demonstrated remarkable skill in deploying their lifesaving equipment, enabling our crew to locate them within minutes upon arriving on scene,” said Lt. Cmdr. Sarah Anderson, the aircraft commander during the case. “The mariner’s effective use of their EPIRB and signaling flare played a pivotal role in the success of this case.”

“This case demonstrates the importance of having layers of communications effectively taking the “search” out of search and rescue,” said Scott Szczepaniak, a recreational boating safety specialist, Coast Guard Seventh District. “Anyone venturing offshore, including recreational boaters, should consider carrying an EPIRB, and a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), as an extra layer of security. A properly registered VHF-FM marine radio, equipped with digital selective calling and programmed with the vessel’s MMSI and connected to a GPS, should be your first layer of security. Cell phone coverage can be spotty or non-existent and phones are not built for the rigors of the marine environment and should not be your only means of communication offshore.”