Coast Guard rescues mariner from vessel in distress

July 26, 2024

Alerted by an emergency beacon, an MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria rescued a mariner in distress on Monday evening after his vessel started taking on water 95 miles from Westport.

The cause of the damage to the vessel, the Misty R, registered out of Everett, is unknown, said Petty Office 2nd Class Steve Strohmaier, a Coast Guard public affairs specialist.

The initial alert came in when the vessel’s emergency position indicating radiobeacon, used to located boaters in distress — activated at around 5 p.m. on Monday, Strohmaier said. The Coast Guard scrambled a helicopter out of Astoria, which arrived on scene about an hour and a half later and located the mariner, who had donned a survival suit and evacuated to a life raft. Sea conditions were mild, Strohmaier said.

The man was the only person aboard the vessel, Strohmaier said. He was retrieved from the raft without incident, along with the emergency position indicating radio beacon. The rescue swimmer scuttled the life raft afterwards so it wouldn’t be mistaken as coming from a fresh wreck, Strohmaier said. The aircrew also placed a radio buoy on the crippled vessel to mark its position, Strohmaier said.

“The helicopter was able to put a radio beacon type buoy — basically, it transmits back to the command center,” Strohmaier said. “As of right now, the boat was still floating some 95 miles offshore. They’re just trying to monitor it if any other vessels come in the area.”

The helicopter aircrew recovered to Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, where the mariner refused further medical treatment. The disposition or salvage of the Misty R is the owner’s responsibility, Strohmaier said.

“This rescue perfectly highlights the importance of having an emergency rescue beacon, properly registering it, and knowing how to use it,” said Lt. Cmdr. Lily Andrews, search and rescue mission coordinator, in a social media post. “Great work to all involved.”