SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard is recognizing government and private-sector partners for the coordinated rescue of 18 mariners approximately 830 nautical miles southeast of Tokyo, after the U.S.-flagged SLNC York’s engine room rapidly took on water August 19.
The Coast Guard Joint Region Sub-Center Guam received a satellite phone call from the York’s captain at 2:40 a.m. reporting the flooding. Watchstanders immediately gathered critical information, issued an emergency broadcast to mariners and identified potential assets, then maintained communications among the vessel, Coast Guard Area and District command centers, the Japanese government and responding assets.
Though the vessel was hundreds of miles outside JRSC Guam’s search and rescue area of responsibility, watchstanders continued supporting the response at the request of the mission coordinator, Japan’s Yokohama Maritime Rescue Coordination Center. Using the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, JRSC Guam requested help from nearby merchant ships; the Pacific Yantai, Gas Blue Bonnet and Lian Cherng Yih responded. The center also coordinated overflights from Japan by a U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft.
As the uncontrolled flooding continued, the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship and deployed the vessel’s lifeboat. At approximately 7:30 p.m. ChST that evening, the Pacific Yantai rescued all 18 crewmembers from the lifeboat.
“This operation required exceptional communication, resourcefulness and collaboration across multiple units, time zones and nations,” said Cmdr. Grant Johnson, JRSC Guam search and rescue coordinator, crediting the Coast Guard in Guam, Hawaii and California, the Japan Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the responding AMVER vessels. “This rescue highlights the critical role of reliable communications to enable rapid emergency response, and vital safety gear like lifeboats for sea evacuations.”
AMVER is a worldwide voluntary ship-reporting system sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, letting search and rescue authorities identify commercial ships near a maritime distress and request assistance.
