Coast Guard saves 1 in rowboat in Bellingham Bay, Wash.

 

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard rescued a man adrift on his dingy in Bellingham Bay Thursday after he was beset by weather.

The 26-year-old Ferndale man was rowing his 7-foot wooden-watercraft across the bay to an anchored sailboat, which he claimed to be working on, when he lost his oars and had no other means of propulsion. The man had no life jacket, possessed no means of communication, and was not wearing adequate clothing for the conditions.

At 9:03 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a call from a good Samaritan on the shore who reported spotting a man on a dingy waving his arms and calling for help.

A Coast Guard Station Bellingham 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew launched at 9:12 a.m., arrived on scene in about 20 minutes, and took the man aboard.

He reportedly suffered from the early stages of hypothermia and was immediately taken to emergency medical service technicians from Bellingham Fire Department waiting at Station Bellingham.

The boat crew returned to the scene shortly after in an attempt to recover the dingy, but it could not be located.

“He is incredibly lucky that we reached him in time,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Franzese, a 45-foot RB-M crew member of Station Bellingham. “He was drifting toward rougher waters, and it would have totally swamped his boat. Considering how cold the water was and his lack of safety equipment, he narrowly avoided tragedy today.”

There was a small-craft advisory in effect at the time of the incident. The Coast Guard recommends all mariners heed these critical warnings from the national weather service and take into account the affects that winds and waves will have on their boat prior to getting underway and throughout their voyage. 

Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 01/23/2020 07:39 PM EST
News Release
U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest
Contact: 13th District Public Affairs
Office: (206) 220-7237
After Hours: (206) 819-9154
 

-USCG-

 

Coast Guard rescues hiker near Neah Bay, Wash.

 

 

SEATTLE — An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles rescued a stranded 57-year-old woman Sunday from the Waatch Point Beach near Neah Bay.  The uninjured woman was airlifted to safety and reunited with family.

At 11:58 a.m., watchstanders at Sector Puget Sound received a report of a hiker who had climbed down a beach cliff via a rope and became stranded there by the tide. 

At 12:11 p.m., a Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter launched from Air Station Port Angeles to assist Neah Bay Fire and Police departments.

The aircrew arrived on scene at 1:18 p.m. and deployed a rescue swimmer to hoist her off the beach.
The air crew transferred the woman to Coast Guard Station Neah Bay to awaiting emergency medical service technicians. She reported no medical concerns and refused treatment and was released to family.
"This was a difficult rescue due to the terrain of the beach and cliff," said Lt. Jeff Davis, the MH-65 co-pilot. "Thanks to our local partners at Neah Bay Police and Fire departments, we were able to locate her."

The Coast Guard reminds the public to check the tides before visiting beaches of the Pacific Northwest.

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 01/27/2020 12:22 AM EST
-USCG-

 

Milestone: Coast Guard Auxiliary swears in staff officers

Monday, December 30, 2019 9:08am

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 13, Division 4 held a change of watch and training meeting at USCG Sector Port Angeles on Dec. 14.

More than 40 Auxiliarists, active duty guests and Cmdr. Michael S. Jackson, commanding officer of Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, were on hand as Jackson and Tiney D. Singler, commodore-elect of the District 13 Auxiliary, administered the oath to new officers.

Commodore Singler, shared with the audience his ideas, vision and plans for 2020, as well as his philosophy on leadership and recruiting and retention of Auxiliarists.

The incoming Division 4 commander and event moderator, Dick Halsaver of Sequim, also raised his hand for the oath. Division 4 includes flotillas in Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties. Halsaver shared his visions and ideas to move Auxiliary volunteers into a greater number of positions that provide the greatest assistance to the active duty Coast Guard while enhancing the civilian volunteers’ Auxiliary experience.

Tom Bliss, the incoming Division 4 Vice Commander from Gig Harbor, also was sworn in and shared some ideas on training and record-keeping.

Commander Jackson discussed the positive team relationship existing between active duty personnel and volunteers in the Auxiliary. The Commander then addressed current activities, missions, and developments at the Port Angeles Station and detailed the fascinating history of U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Angeles.

Executive Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active, Lieutenant Commander Jayme Dubinsky, spoke about the history, abilities, and key maritime security missions of the Cutter Active.

Kent Brown, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, provided insight into the use of information gained in a recent “Gap Analysis” regarding USCG personnel and skill shortfalls that the USCG Auxiliary might train to fill.

Alan Smith of Sequim, a Coast Guard Auxiliary food service specialist recently certified to cook onboard USCG vessels and at shore installations, described a three-year process he went through to gain the credential. Smith was recognized for his accomplishment and dedication to Team Coast Guard.

Auxiliarists and guests were given tours of the working 45-foot USCG search and rescue boats maintained at Station Port Angeles as well as an 87-foot cutter Wahoo. Crew members from each vessel explained the capabilities and missions of their boats and answered questions.

Created by Congress in 1939, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed, civilian volunteer branch with more than 34,000 members nationwide active in a range of missions including public education, training, safety patrols and search and rescue. For more information, visit www.cgaux.org.

 

Cmdr. M. Scott Jackson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, administers the oath of office to Coast Guard Auxiliary staff officers for 2020 from District 13, Division 4 during a meeting at the air station on Saturday, Dec. 14. Richard Halsaver of Sequim will be division commander and Thomas Bliss of Gig Harbor becomes division vice commander. From left, Jackson, Auxiliary members Dean Alexander, Brian Anderson, James Armstrong, Randall Zempel and Robert Hancock. Photo by Auxiliarist Drew Herman

Members at the 2019 USCG Auxiliary District 13, Division 4 listen in as incoming USCG District 13 Commodore Tiney Singler addresses attendees. Sequim’s Dick Halsaver, incoming Auxiliary division commander, watches from the podium. Photo by Auxiliarist James McLaughlin

 

Cmdr. Scott Jackson (in leather flight jacket on the left), commanding officer of Sector Port Angeles, joins members and guests of the 2019 USCG Auxiliary District 13 Division 4 meeting held at USCG Station Port Angeles on Dec. 14. Photo by Auxiliarist James McLaughlin

Article by James McLaughlin SO-PA

Published in: www.sequimgazette.com/life/milestone-coast-guard-auxiliary-swears-in-staff-officers