gCaptain’s photo of the week is a helicopter shot of LNG Tanker Lokoja (IMO# 9269960). Built by the Korean shipyard Daewoo in 2006 she is owned by BW Gas and chartered to Suez LNG.
What makes this the photo of the week is both the amazing perspective and the photographer himself. gCaptain believes every mariner has a specialty, hobby or interest that makes him unique and we love to showcase their work. This is a great example because, like our friend OneEighteen’s best work, Carlos Ferreira, the photographer, took this shot while performing his everyday duties at sea. Carlos also happens to have a day job that every mariner deeply appreciates, Rescue Captain aboard Spain’s Rescue Helicopter “Pesca 2″.
For more of Carlos’ amazing photos CLICK HERE.
Related Posts:
Tags: · coast-guard, helicopter, LNG, lng tanker, Photo, rescue-swimmer
Extending yesterdays celebration of Coast Guard Day 2009, we will be keeping up with the coast guard theme here all week on gCaptain’s blog. Today’s post is an interesting story written by William H. Thiesen, Ph.D., an Atlantic Area Historian of the U.S. Coast Guard, offering insight into the beginning of the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Program through this historical account. [Continue Reading →]
Related Posts:
Tags: · rescue-swimmer, rescue-swimmers, USCG
In its April Edition, Popular Mechanics gives its readers an inside look into the USCG’s Advanced Helicopter Rescue School by enrolling one of its authors to attend the course along with 16 other students. The school, located in Astoria Oregon, is where Coast Guard helicopter pilots and crews receive training in conducting rescues in heavy weather and heavy surf conditions. The course was started to provide specialized skills to Aviation Survival Technicians when dealing with the challenges of cold water, high seas and cliff rescue work.
The one-week course is held eight times a year in the mouth of the Columbia River – an area commonly known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. In order provide the most effective training possible, the timing of the courses – generally in the Spring and Fall – are chosen to take advantage of the most hazardous conditions this region can produce.
Here is a video provided by USCG Imagery of a typical “classroom” excersise: [Continue Reading →]
Related Posts:
Tags: · popular_mechanic, rescue at sea, rescue-swimmer, USCG
On Monday, Alaskan state officials announced that the owners and operators of the bulk freighter, M/V Selendang Ayu, that sank off the north shore of Unalaska Island in the Bering Sea in 2004 have agreed to pay the state of Alaska nearly $850,000 to settle oil spill, wreck removal and lost fish tax claims.
The settlement with the vessels operator IMC Shipping Co. Pte. Ltd. (IMC) of Singapore and owner Ayu Navigation of Port Klang, Malaysia, brings the total amount of clean-up costs and fees to more than $112 million for the December 2004 sinking. The accident resulted in the a spill of approximately 336,000 gallons of fuel oil and diesel fuel.
With the exception of the Exxon Valdez, the penalty collected is the largest civil oil spill penalty ever recovered by the state of Alaska.
Flashback to December 2004
[Continue Reading →]
Related Posts:
Tags: · alaska, bering sea, incident photos, oil-spill, rescue, rescue-swimmer, USCG
INTERVIEW WITH USCG RESCUE HELICOPTER CREW
This past July, in a gCaptain and Robin Storm exclusive, we brought you the Lessons Learned by North Atlantic freak wave survivor Jean Pierre de Lutz. Just two months prior to that article Jean was aboard the sailboat Sean Seamor II when he found trouble in the north Atlantic. In the final logbook entry he writes:
On or around 7 May 2007 the s/v Sean Seamour II was struck by a what is believed to be a “freak wave”, during Subtropical Storm Andrea. The sailboat was broadsided by a wave that did an great deal of damage to the boat and sent the crew flying about the cabin doing 360’s and causing its Master to break his ribs. The wave caused the sailboat to immediately list starboard.
After a harrowing time riding the waves a EPIRB signal was received by the USCG and a C-130 over fight located the wave riding crew. A J-Hawk Helicopter was dispatched to the area and launched a rescue swimmer, who injured his back during the insertion into the water, when a wave dropped from beneath him and he dropped some 50 to 70 feet. All of this done in 50 to 70 foot seas, with winds estimated at 80 knots.
Today we bring you an MAIS Podcast interview with the entire crew of the J-Hawk Helicopter that came to their rescue. It’s a story of survival in nature’s harshest conditions so be sure to listen.
THE HEROS
Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Drew D. Dazzo, H-60 Rescue Swimmer
Lieutenant Commander Nevada A. Smith, H-60 Aircraft Commander
Lieutenant Junior Grade Aaron G. Nelson, H-60 Copilot
Aviation Maintenance Technician Second Class Scott D. Higgins, H-60 Flight Mechanic
Read the Award Ceremony Minutes HERE.
THE VIDEO
Background Reading
MAIS Special Report – Rescue on The High Seas;
Messing About In Ships Podcast #12 - Special Interview of US Coast Guard Rescue of Sailors Aboard the Yacht Sean Seymour II:
Play Now |
Play in Popup |
Download
Related Posts:
Tags: · coast-guard, rescue at sea, rescue-swimmer, sailing, sean seymour II, severe weather, Subtropical Storm Andrea, survival, USCG
gCaptain On Twitter
gCaptain On Facebook
gCaptain On LinkedIn