February 20, 2012 7:28 pmSAN FRANCISCO — The search effort to locate a reported person in the water and a boat collision near the Richmond/San Rafael bridge has been suspended after rescue crews were unable to locate any signs of distress this morning.
The search was suspended at approximately 8 a.m. after Coast Guard helicopter and boat crews searched through the night and into the morning and were unable to find any debris or evidence of a collision. The Coast Guard was assisted in the search by the Marin, Tiburon, and San Rafael police departments.
Coast Guard Sector San Francisco received a mayday call over VHF-FM channel 16, at 10:53 last night. The Coast Guard was radioed again at 11:18 from a source reporting that their boat had been involved in a collision with another boat and that there was a person in the water. The Coast Guard immediately launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco and a 45-foot utility boat from Station San Francisco, as well as, diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Pike, an 87-foot patrol boat, to the scene.
The Coast Guard suspects that this case was the result of a false distress call. False distress calls are investigated by the Coast Guard Investigation Service and the Federal Communications Commission. The Coast Guard would like to remind the public that making false calls for help over VHF-FM channel 16 is illegal, and punishable under federal and state law.
Additionally, the boating public is reminded that channel 16 is reserved for distress communication, equivalent to 911 for phone lines. Boaters who need to hail the Coast Guard for non-emergencies can contact the local station on channel 16 and request to use another channel to communicate.
Under federal law, an individual who knowingly and willfully communicates a false distress message to the Coast Guard, or causes the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help is needed is:
Guilty of a class D felony
Subject to up to 6 years in prison
Subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000
Liable for all costs the Coast Guard incurs as a result of the individuals action.
Under California state law, it is unlawful for any person to use or discharge any registered emergency-signaling device in any manner other than that permitted by the instructions for use.
Should an individual ignite a test flare, or accidentally ignite a flare when not in a situation of distress, the individual should make every effort to contact the Coast Guard as soon as possible, and provide their location and report the ignited distress signal. The same advice applies to "mayday" calls over the radio. Should boaters believe themselves to be in distress and the situation resolves itself, the boater should report their updated condition to the Coast Guard immediately. By correcting the initial report as soon as possible, the Coast Guard can avoid sending crews on an unnecessary and potentially dangerous search.
To learn more about safe boating practices, and to see all required and recommended safety equipment, visit:
http://www.uscgboating.org/.
February 20, 2012 6:01 amSAN FRANCISCO — A massive search effort conducted by the Coast Guard and the Marin, Tiburon, San Rafael Police Departments is underway for a person in the water and boat collision near the Richmond-San Rafael bridge.
After hours of searching, crews are unable to locate any signs of the reported distress.
Coast Guard Sector San Francisco received a mayday call over VHF-FM channel 16, at 10:53 last night. The Coast Guard was radioed again 11:18 p.m. from a source reporting that their boat had been involved in a collision with another boat and that there was a person in the water.
The Coast Guard immediately launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco and a 45-foot utility boat from Station San Francisco, as well as, diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Pike, an 87-foot patrol boat, to the scene. After an extensive search, crews are unable to locate any signs of distress.
The search will continue throughout the night and into the morning.
February 10, 2012 4:43 pmAlameda based cutter disrupts drug operations
February 9, 2012 3:00 pmALAMEDA, Calif. – Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp will deliver the 2012 State of the Coast Guard Address here Feb. 23, on Coast Guard Island starting at 10 a.m. Papp will also participate in a media availability following the address at 11 a.m.
WHO: Adm. Bob Papp, commandant, Coast Guard
WHAT: The State of the Coast Guard Address. This is an annual speech delivered by the commandant of the
Coast Guard to provide a current overview of the service and outline his priorities for the years
ahead.
WHEN: The address will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday. Media should plan to arrive at Coast
Guard Island no later than 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Cutter pier at intersection of Spencer Road and McCullouch Drive
Coast Guard Island
Alameda, Calif. 94501
(Go to intersection of Dennison Street and Embarcadero, cross bridge onto Coast Guard Island and
security will guide media to parking location.)
Media will have designated parking along McCullouch Drive near the address location. Space is limited and will be provided on a first-come first-served basis. Media should plan to arrive at the Coast Guard Island front gate no later than 9:30 a.m. to be parked and at the address site on time.
Limited riser space will be available on a first-come first-served basis. A multi-box will be available as no microphones will be allowed on the podium.
Media unable to attend can view the address live at www.uscg.mil/socga. A copy of the address will be posted online at www.uscg.mil/seniorleadership/speeches.asp, Thursday, after the event.
To ensure credentialing and access to Coast Guard Island, all interested media should contact Lt. Eric Eggen at 510- 437-3319 or Petty Officer 2nd Class Sondra-Kay Rivera at 510-437-3318 to coordinate details no later than Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
February 4, 2012 1:35 amSAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard suspended the search this evening for a man whose recreational vessel was found capsized off the coast of Ano Nuevo State Park, Calif., on Friday morning.
The 64-year old man was reported missing by his son when he did not return after departing from the Pillar Point Marina in an 18-foot white recreational boat on Wednesday.
Crews aboard 47-foot Motor Lifeboats from Coast Guard Stations Golden Gate and Monterey, two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station San Francisco, a HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Sacramento, the Coast Guard Cutter TERN, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat homeported in San Francisco, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department fixed wing aircraft and two small boats, and the Pillar Point Harbor Master all responded to the search for the man. The Coast Guard Auxiliary also assisted in a shore-side search that stretched from Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz.
Responding units searched more than 3,800 square nautical miles of water, an area more than twice the size of Rhode Island.
February 3, 2012 12:56 pmSAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard is searching by air and sea for a boater reported missing by his son last night near Half Moon Bay.
Missing is Shau Tsu Wong, a 64-year old San Ramon resident.
He left from Pillar Point Marina Feb. 1, in an 18-foot white recreational boat with a red strip.
The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco, a C-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Sacramento, a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat from Station Golden Gate and Station Monterey, and the Coast Guard Cutter Tern, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat homeported on Yerba Buena Island. Additionally, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is assisting in a shore-side search, stretching from Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz.
The Coast Guard is asking for anyone with information about the missing boater to contact Coast Guard Sector San Francisco at 415-399-3530.
January 30, 2012 11:06 amMCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. – The crew of a Coast Guard MH-60 Dolphin helicopter rescued three men after a crab boat sank approximately 11 miles off the coast of Crescent City, Calif., Friday.
The three men aboard the 46-foot crab boat West Wind noticed the boat was riding low in the water and began taking on water.
Air Station Humboldt Bay received the distress call at approximately 3 p.m. and launched a helicopter and diverted another airborne helicopter to respond. Station Humboldt Bay also launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat to respond.
The aircrew spotted the three men in a survival raft and lowered a rescue swimmer who assisted in hoisting the three men into the helicopter. The three men were taken to Crescent City airport where they were transferred to the care of medical personnel from Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City.
The Coast Guard would like to emphasize the importance of the crab boat crew’s safety gear including their survival suits and life raft, which played a significant role in the survival and rescue of the three fishermen.
The aircrew included pilots Lt. Keith Roberts and Lt. Josh Smith, flight mechanic Petty Officer Brandon Cook and rescue swimmer Petty Officer Dave Foreman.
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