Heroes At Sea

Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, homeported in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous, homeported in St. Petersburg, and the Coast Guard Cutter Marlin, homeported in Fort Myers Beach, were recognized by members of the Propeller Club - Port of Tampa, aboard the Venturous, Tuesday for two separate rescues they conducted in 2012.

While patrolling off the coast of Jamaica in January 2012, a Venturous crewmember spotted a faint white light in the water, which appeared to be flashing. The cutter approached the light to find five people clinging to debris. The crewmembers recovered the five survivors from the water and were told their fishing boat had sank due to heavy seas. The light seen was one of the survivor's cell phones being waved.

Coast Guard Cutter Marlin

The crew of the Marlin was also recognized for their efforts while underway conducting law enforcement operations in November 2012. They were diverted in response to distress calls from a sailing vessel. The vessel, with three people aboard, lost propulsion and could not make way approximately 120 miles northwest of the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico. With weather conditions too severe to launch the cutter's small boat, they established a 30-hour tow to bring the sailing vessel and its crew to safety.

Retired Coast Guard Rear Adm. William Merlin, a member of The Propeller Club - Port of Tampa presented plaques to both crews as special recognition for a salute to the Coast Guard.

"I am very proud of the accomplishments of the crews of the Marlin and the Venturous, as well as all of our Coast Guardsmen who serve the American public every day," said Capt. Sheryl Dickinson, commanding officer of Sector St. Petersburg. "I thank the Propeller Club for recognizing the contributions of these crews to the safety and security of the ports and waterways of the west coast of Florida."

Capt. Sheryl L. Dickinson, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., members of the Tampa Propeller Club, crew members from the Coast Guard Cutters Venturous and Marlin, homeported in St. Petersburg, are shown after a recognition ceremony Tuesday, March 13, 2013. The crew of the Venturous and Marlin were recognized by The Propeller Club - Port of Tampa for two separate rescues they conducted in 2012. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle