Rescue Me Are you ready?
Jack Dale ISPA Yachtmaster Offshore Instructor Evaluator
Sail Canada Advanced Cruising Instructor
ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising Instructor
IYT Yachtmaster Coastal Instructor
Background
Turicum entered in 2012 Vic-Maui
Second in Division 2
Return crew vetted by Sailcraft and me
Two indicated prostate concerns
Doctors cleared all crew
Background
Depart Lahaina 1800, July 29, 2012
Usual acclimatization to sea
Some motion seasickness
All seems well
Issues arise
One crew needs catheterize himself
We heave-to to steady the boat
All seems well
Boat not sterile
Too much motion
Dehydration an issue
All is not well
Decision Making Process
Seeking Assistance
Plan A – Radio
VHF Pan Pan Medical (Channel 16)
SSB Pan Pan Medical (2182 kHz)
No longer monitored by USCG (August 1, 2013)
Plan B – Sat Phone
Plan C – EPIRB
Last resort
Essential safety equipment
EPIRBS
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Essential offshore distress equipment
Broadcasts
Unique ID on 406 MHz
GPS position
121 MHz homing signal
EPIRB Registration
Owner details
Name of vessel
Type of vessel
Maximum crew
Other radios
Call sign
MMSI
Manufacturer
Serial Number
Emergency contact
EPIRB / PLB
EPIRB
Registered to vessel
Requires re-registration
48 hour battery
Manual or automatic
Personal Locator Beacon
Registered to person
24 hour battery
Manual
CG Honolulu
Satellite phone call to CG Honolulu
Number in Communications Manual
Crew speaks with CG flight surgeon
Recommendation
Medical evacuation to ship
Out of helicopter range
Preparation
Six hour phone watch
First scenario
M/V Hanjin Vancouver
30 hours away
Night time rendezvous
Not good
Preparation
Second Scenario
MV Navarino
20 hours away
Daytime rendezvous
39° 10’N 150° W
Much better
The Middle of the Pacific
Rescue Options
Rescue Boat
Cargo Net
Jacob’s Ladder
Rescue Boat
NCL Star on June 26th 2012, 41ft Avenir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfuARONyFpc
Cargo Net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5W6wm9b0QY
The Amver participating ship Atlantic Prosperity rescued 5 from their disabled sail boat Epiphany.
Jacobs Ladder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8UBLSYgBcg
Vessels Unknown
Mouse and Elephant
Turicum 44 feet
20,800 lbs
Navarino 1100 feet
102303 tons
Our Transfer
RCC Honolulu
Rescue boat
Navarino
Jacob’s ladder to pilot boarding station
1.5 meters above water
Amended to 4.5 meters above water
Crew member ambulatory
Our Transfer
Navarino maintains 3 knots
Provided a lee from wind and waves
Great conditions for transfer
My thoughts of
Brad James
Doug Sabbag
From Turicum Part 1
Video by Graham Dalton
From Turicum Part 2
Video by Graham Dalton
From Navarino
Success
Photo by Maggie Snee
Departure
Video by Graham Dalton
Damage to Vessels
Turicum
Broken starboard sidelight
Scratched rub rail
Two deflated fenders
Navarino
None
On to Los Angeles
Navarino arrived Los Angeles, August 10
Ambulance met ship at dock
Crew kept overnight for observation
Flew home
AMVER
Was (1958)
Atlantic Merchant Vessel Emergency Reporting (AMVER) System
Now
Automated (computerized) Mutual-assistance (its basic premise) VEssel Rescue (its stated purpose) System
AMVER
A worldwide voluntary ship reporting system operated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to promote safety of life and property at sea.
AMVER
Mission - quickly provide SAR authorities, on demand, accurate information on the positions and characteristics of vessels near a reported distress.
AMVER
Render Assistance - SOLAS
"... the master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide assistance, on receiving a signal from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their assistance, if possible informing them or the search and rescue service that the ship is doing so”
AMVER
Identifies the best ship or ships to respond to a ship in distress
Releases other vessels to continue their voyage
Saving fuel, time and payroll costs
AMVER
Participation
Free, voluntary, and open to merchant ships of all flags
Generally limited to ships over 1000 gross tons, on a voyage of 24 hours or longer
Enrollment has been expanded to accommodate vessels outside the normal criteria, such as cruise ships, research vessels and fish processors
SURPIC
AMVER provides SURface PICtures – SURPICs – to RCCs.
SURPIC Data
Ship's name
Radio call sign
Predicted latitude and longitude
Hours to intercept
Distance in nautical miles
New course in order to make the intercept
AMVER
August 2012 Density plot
: The monthly
plot totaled over 50 vessels
: The monthly
plot totaled between 15 and 49 vessels
: The monthly
plot totaled between 5 and 14 vessels
: The monthly
plot totaled 4 or fewer vessels
Empty Cells: No vessels
RCC and AMVER
Cannot contact AMVER directly
RCC does so
All communication through RCC
Until rescue imminent
VHF
Home Safely
CAPT. ATHANASIOS PAGKALOS Angeliki Vrana, wife of Capt. Pagkalos, Master of m/v Navarino, accepting the Award on his behalf from George Tsavliris, principal of sponsor Tsavliris Salvage Group.
Greek Seafarer of the Year
Lessons Learned
Help is available
It is easier to bring a 44 sailboat along side an 1100 foot container ship, than vice versa
Know how to use your equipment
Radar reflector should be “catch rain”
Lessons Learned
Communication is crucial
Inter vessel
Intra vessel
AMVER is a fabulous service
Satellite phone is a must
EPRIB / PLB for more serious situations
SSB & VHF not feasible
Lessons Learned
I wish that no rescue operations or medical evacuations ever need to take place, but if they do, I wish they go as smooth as our operation did.
CAPT. ATHANASIOS PAGKALOS
Lessons Learned
Lesson #1
If you do it right;
it is boring.
Special Thanks to
My Crew
Dave Maskell
Edward Rogers
Maggie Snee
Graham Dalton
Best wishes to Andy Dawes
Ben Strong (AMVER)
Vetted Presentation
Darren Berdine
Communications
Steve (Smackdaddy) Brothers
Advance copy of Cruising World article
