Coast Guard coordinates medical response following explosion, 1 dead

BOSTON — The U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating with the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing and the Canadian and Portuguese Coast Guards to provide a medical emergency response for crewmembers following an explosion aboard an international bulk carrier 1,300 miles offshore Cape Cod.

At approximately 7 a.m., the captain of the Marshall Islands-flagged 623-foot bulk carrier Tamar contacted watchstanders at the Coast Guard command center reporting an explosion in the ship’s forward storeroom. He also reported the explosion killed one crewmember and three suffered massive burns and are in need of immediate medical attention.

The Coast Guard reached out to their partner agencies to coordinate the emergency response. The New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing launched an HC-130 aircrew with six pararescuers and one combat rescue officer. The air crew is estimated to reach the Tamar at approximately 6:30 p.m. The pararescuers will jump from their HC-130 with a small boat and advanced life-saving equipment to provide medical treatment for the crewmembers.

The Canadian Coast Guard has diverted two warships with physician assistants aboard estimated to arrive after midnight.

The fire resulting from the explosion is extinguished and the cause is unknown.

The ship’s engineering plant was unaffected and the crew is continuing on their transit to the Azores, Portugal. Their last port of call was Baltimore.

The First Coast Guard District is responsible for 1,300 miles of offshore search and rescue area. After 1,300 miles, the Portuguese Coast Guard assumes coordination authority for cases east of the boundary.

 

Positive News: Coast Guard, locals save 6 from boat sinking off New Bedford, MA

BOSTON — The Coast Guard and local responders rescued 6 people Sunday from a 72-foot scallop boat sinking five miles off New Bedford.

A person aboard the scallop boat, Captain Jeff, used a VHF radio at 9:30 a.m. to hail watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, in Woods Hole, and report their boat was taking on water.

A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Coast Guard Station Menemsha and a helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod responded to help. The Buzzards Bay Task Force also responded to help the six people.

Once on scene, a rescue swimmer deployed from the helicopter onto the Captain Jeff with dewatering equipment to control the flooding.

After the Coast Guard rescue swimmer realized the dewatering equipment was not working, he assisted all six people off the scallop boat and aboard a task force boat.

The survivors were taken into New Bedford to be evaluated by awaiting emergency services personnel. There were no reported injuries.

"The Coast Guard is grateful for the responsiveness and dedication of our interagency partners in Buzzards Bay," said Lt. Jarrod Pomajzl, the command center chief at Sector Southeastern New England.  "Everything they bring to the table improves the search and rescue system, and today they helped save six lives."

The Captain Jeff is currently still sinking and adrift in New Bedford Harbor. Commercial salvage has been arranged. The cause of the sinking is under investigation.

The Captain Jeff is homeported in New Bern, North Carolina.