Coast Guard warns mariners, prepares for storm, coastal flooding in Northeast

The Coast Guard is advising mariners and the public along the Massachusetts and Rhode Island coast to exercise vigilance and extreme caution Thursday night through Saturday as a powerful storm approaches.

Conditions are expected to deteriorate Thursday night. Along with heavy rain and strong wind gusts, high tide cycles from Friday into Saturday are at risk for widespread, major coastal flooding. The intensity and height of the predicted storm’s wave action combined with the astronomically high tides, and the long duration of this coastal storm, could significantly exceed the coastal flooding damage experienced during the nor’easter this past January.

The forecasted high winds, rain, coastal flooding, and heavy seas will make operation in the maritime environment dangerous.

Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod aircraft have been flying storm tracks ahead of the storm to warn mariners of the impending storm. Click here for audio of the broadcast.

Coast Guard Cutter Spencer, a 270-foot cutter homeported in Boston, will be staged off the coast to respond to offshore search and rescue cases.

Due to the extreme conditions some Coast Guard assets may have limited ability to respond to vessels in distress. Therefore, waterfront operators, mariners, fishing vessels, recreational boaters, and the general public should exercise extreme caution as conditions begin to deteriorate on Thursday night.

Mariners and recreational boaters are warned to take the following precautions to protect their vessels and their crews:

• If a storm is approaching, do not go out to sea.

• Double-check lines when securing your boat. Take precautions for items stored loosely aboard.

• Secure all paddle craft and ensure they are not located in or near the tidal surge zone.

• Contact local marinas for advice on how best to secure your vessel.

• If you must get underway, create a float plan and send it to your friends and families before getting underway. Ensure that you have the proper signaling devices onboard your vessel and the correct amount of life jackets onboard.

• The storm is likely to produce dangerous winds and coastal flash flooding. Personal watercraft and paddle craft users are advised to stay off the water due extremely hazardous sea conditions. Also, swimmers, surfers, and wind surfers are strongly urged to stay out of the water during this period of heavy weather. 

• Always wear a proper life jacket when on a boat or personal watercraft.

All boaters and those living along coastal communities are urged to secure their small craft, including canoes, kayaks, and paddle craft, due to the expected high winds, heavy seas, and storm surge. Paddle craft owners are urged to pull and secure vessels well above high water levels to avoid craft being pulled off the shore. Once at sea, unmanned craft often result in complex, unnecessary searches thereby reducing Coast Guard's capability to respond to actual distress at sea. Also, please clearly mark all paddle craft with owner's name and contact information.

Coast Guard Sector Boston’s area of responsibility extends from Plymouth, MA, to the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border and is expected to be heavily impacted.

“Our primary concern is ensuring the safety of the people and mariners who live and work throughout the New England coastal community,” said Capt. Claudia Gelzer, Commander, Coast Guard Sector Boston. “We strongly advise everyone to stay vigilant, pay attention to any weather updates, and avoid putting themselves or their loved ones at risk as the storm passes off the coast.”

For additional information on the storm, visit the National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov/box/

Coast Guard suspends search for missing fishermen

The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday at 8 p.m. for two missing fishermen near Nantucket, pending the development of new information.
The fishermen originally went missing Monday evening after their boat, Misty Blue, sunk approximately 10 miles southeast of Nantucket. Two other crewmembers were rescued by a nearby good Samaritan.
The Coast Guard, along with state and local agencies and good Samaritans, searched for 42 asset hours, saturating a 1,605 square nautical mile area.
The search included the following assets:
• An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod
• An HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Air Station Cape Cod
• A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat from Coast Guard Station Brant Point
• Coast Guard Cutter Steelhead, an 87-foot patrol boat
• Coast Guard Cutter Tybee, a 110-foot patrol boat
• Coast Guard Cutter Albacore, an 87-foot patrol boat
• Barnstable County Sheriff
• Dennis Fire Department
• Massachusetts State Police Dive Team
• Fishing vessel Enterprise
• Fishing vessel Mariette

The cause of the sinking is under investigation.

Spencer's crew returns home after busy 90-day patrol

The Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returned home to Boston Tuesday following a highly successful 90-day patrol fighting transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and training for multi-national search and rescue response in the Arctic.

The crew’s patrol efforts resulted in the interdiction of four drug-laden vessels, the seizure of more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $110 million, and the apprehension of 12 suspected smugglers.

Last week, the crew offloaded approximately 10 tons of cocaine and 23 kilograms of heroin in Port Everglades, Florida, worth an estimated $300 million wholesale. The drugs were interdicted along Mexico and Central America by multiple U.S. Coast Guard cutters.

"While this offload represents approximately 10 tons of illicit drugs that will never hit out streets, it also represents a significant depletion to the cash flow to these criminal organizations," said Cdr. John Mctamney, Spencer's commanding officer.

Mctamney said the offload is not just the result of their crew's work, but the combined efforts of multiple Coast Guard cutters, aircraft, and support, as well as those of "our partners and allied men and women who continue to work day and night to stop these criminal organizations from profiting off transnational crime and smuggling."

During their patrol, the Spencer’s crew also participated in the 2017 Arctic Guardian Search and Rescue (SAR) Exercise in Reyjkavik, Iceland. The full-scale, underway exercise included participation by eight Arctic nations working to hone best practices for potential multi-national search and rescue response in the Arctic region.

The cutter Spencer is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Boston with a crew complement of 13 officers and 87 enlisted personnel.

Coast Guard readies for Jose, cautions mariners

Coast Guard units across the Northeast are accelerating preparations Monday ahead of forecasted tropical storm conditions expected to arrive in our area late Tuesday into Wednesday.

Forecasted marine and coastal effects, including 34-63 knot winds and 20-30 foot seas, could pose life threatening conditions for mariners.

Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod crews are flying storm tracks and using marine radios to warn offshore boaters of the approaching heavy weather and recommending they seek safe haven.

Coast Guard sectors and stations across southern New England will maintain response-ready for near-shore search and rescue. The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane and 225-foot Coast Guard Cutter Oak crews are preparing to stage in protected waters for offshore response.

"We understand the sea is a livelihood for many people, but this is one of those few times when we urge everyone, commercial and recreational boaters, to stay off the water," said Captain Richard Schultz, commander of Sector Southeastern New England.

Additionally, he said all boaters and those living along coastal communities are urged to secure their small craft and paddle craft, including canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards, due to the expected high winds, heavy seas, and storm surge. If drifting and unmanned, they could set off unnecessary searches and tie-up vital search and rescue resources.

For additional information from the National Weather Service, please visit the website.

Coast Guard stations Scituate, Block Island, East Moriches to open for season

BOSTON — Seasonal Coast Guard stations Scituate, Block Island and East Moriches are scheduled to open at the end of May and remain open through Labor Day.

The stations’ crews will perform several missions, including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and recreational boating safety. The stations are each equipped with 29-foot response boats and crews that are available to respond 24 hours a day.

The stations will open on the following dates: Station Scituate, today (May 22); Station Block Island, May 26; Station East Moriches, currently open.

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Canepa, commanding officer of Station Point Allerton in Hull,  is also the commanding officer of the seasonal station in Scituate.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Steven Beasley, commanding officer of Station Point Judith in Point Judith, Rhode Island, is also the commanding officer of the seasonal station in Block Island.

Chief Warrant Officer Richard Berg, commanding officer of Station Shinnecock in Hampton Bays, New York, is also the commanding officer of the seasonal station in East Moriches.

Coast Guard med-evacs fisherman 55 miles east of Gloucester

BOSTON — A Coast Guard aircrew med-evaced a 55-year-old man suffering from chest pains Sunday evening 55 miles east of Gloucester.

Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Boston received a report at around 6:30 p.m. that the master of the 75-foot fishing vessel America, homeported in Boston, was ill and in need of medical attention.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod and a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Gloucester launched to assist.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter, was also diverted and assisted by relaying communications.

Once the aircrew arrived, they hoisted the man and flew him to Massachusetts General Hospital.

The seas were 3 to 5 feet and the winds were 25 knots at the time of the hoist. The air temperature was 26 degrees and the water temperature was 40 degrees.

The man was reported to be conscious at the time of the transfer.

COAST GUARD RESCUES TWO FISHING VESSELS IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS BOSTON

 Coast Guard Station Chatham and Coast Guard Station Gloucester responded to two separate reports of 65-foot fishing vessels taking on water Wednesday, one sinking southeast of Monomoy Island, the other near Gloucester.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England’s command center were notified at about 4:30 a.m. that the vessel Silver Fox was taking on water through the boat’s shaft seal about seven miles southeast of Monomoy Island. 
A 42-foot rescue boat crew from Station Chatham launched, arrived on scene with Silver Fox, and transferred a Coast Guard crewmember with two P-6 dewatering pumps.
With the pumps controlling the flooding, the Coast Guard escorted Silver Fox to Hyannis Harbor, where they moored safely at about 9 a.m. 
Meanwhile, another fishing crew aboard the 65-foot Christina Lane contacted Coast Guard Station Gloucester at about 6:45 a.m. reporting the boat was taking on water near Gloucester Harbor. 
The station launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew who arrived on scene, passed two P-6 dewatering pumps to the Christina Lane crew, and took the vessel in tow.
The MLB crew brought Christina Lane to the Gloucester state fish pier safely, but the high rate of flooding required dockside use of the pumps to keep the boat afloat. The owner is expected to make plans to hoist the boat from the water and affect repairs. 
“The two emergencies were similar and both had equally positive outcomes,” said Lt. Samantha Leon, command duty officer at the First District Command Center. “The boat crews got on scene early, passed working pumps quickly, and monitored closely to ensure each fishing boat got back to port safely.”