COAST GUARD ATLANTIC AREA/FIFTH DISTRICT WINS COAST GUARD 2005 RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER PORTSMOUTH, Va.-The Coast Guard Atlantic Area/Fifth District Rescue Coordination Center won the Coast Guard’s 2005 Rescue Coordination Center Search and Rescue Controller of the Year Award. On May 8, 2005, the Al Meisan was enroute to Bermuda when weather conditions worsened and 25-30 foot seas overcame the 45-foot vessel, washing a crewman overboard. The master activated his 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The crewman was recovered only to have the master knocked overboard. The first mate attempting to rescue the master, then also fell overboard leaving the remaining three less experienced passengers alone on the sailing vessel. “This was one of the most intense cases I’ve worked since I’ve been at the Atlantic Area Command Center,” says Lt. Libby Pruitt. “It’s an awesome feeling to be able to save lives and to be recognized for it is just icing on the cake.” Based on the last known position of the vessel, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command Center’s search and rescue controllers tapped all resources to collect vessel information. Coast Guard assets from Boston to Miami, and a Canadian C-130 were used in the search. The Atlantic Area Command Center also worked quickly with the Navy Second Fleet to use the USS Trenton to refuel two Coast Guard helicopters in order to extend their range out to the incident area. With expert search planning and despite 19 hours of drift, the Atlantic Area Command Center’s expertise resulted in saving one of the two people in the water. Their investigation and planning efforts, resource management, difficulties encountered and surmounted, and results of search planning efforts positioned the team to win the 2005 Rescue Coordination Center Search and Rescue Controller of the Year Award. COAST GUARD ATLANTIC AREA/FIFTH DISTRICT WINS COAST GUARD 2005 RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER PORTSMOUTH, Va.-The Coast Guard Atlantic Area/Fifth District Rescue Coordination Center won the Coast Guard’s 2005 Rescue Coordination Center Search and Rescue Controller of the Year Award. On May 8, 2005, the Al Meisan was enroute to Bermuda when weather conditions worsened and 25-30 foot seas overcame the 45-foot vessel, washing a crewman overboard. The master activated his 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The crewman was recovered only to have the master knocked overboard. The first mate attempting to rescue the master, then also fell overboard leaving the remaining three less experienced passengers alone on the sailing vessel. “This was one of the most intense cases I’ve worked since I’ve been at the Atlantic Area Command Center,” says Lt. Libby Pruitt. “It’s an awesome feeling to be able to save lives and to be recognized for it is just icing on the cake.” Based on the last known position of the vessel, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command Center’s search and rescue controllers tapped all resources to collect vessel information. Coast Guard assets from Boston to Miami, and a Canadian C-130 were used in the search. The Atlantic Area Command Center also worked quickly with the Navy Second Fleet to use the USS Trenton to refuel two Coast Guard helicopters in order to extend their range out to the incident area. With expert search planning and despite 19 hours of drift, the Atlantic Area Command Center’s expertise resulted in saving one of the two people in the water. Their investigation and planning efforts, resource management, difficulties encountered and surmounted, and results of search planning efforts positioned the team to win the 2005 Rescue Coordination Center Search and Rescue Controller of the Year Award.
The search and rescue team included Lt. Cmdr. Karen Anderson, Lt. Flavio Baltazar, Lt. Bruce Tucker, Lt. Libby Pruitt, Lt.j.g. Matthew Brooks and Petty Officer 1st Class Matt Doscher. The team’s investigative work and search planning saved the lives of four people aboard the sailing vessel Al Meisan 430 nautical miles east of Cape Charles, Va.
The search and rescue team included Lt. Cmdr. Karen Anderson, Lt. Flavio Baltazar, Lt. Bruce Tucker, Lt. Libby Pruitt, Lt.j.g. Matthew Brooks and Petty Officer 1st Class Matt Doscher. The team’s investigative work and search planning saved the lives of four people aboard the sailing vessel Al Meisan 430 nautical miles east of Cape Charles, Va.
