A Navy helicopter prepares to land on the hospital ship USNS Comfort as it anchors in the harbor at Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Comfort deployed as part of a larger task force of 11 Navy ships supporting Haiti with about 11,000 sailors, Marines, and civilians who are providing humanitarian aid to the battered nation. Defense Department Photo Essay »

Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) – U.S. and United Nations troops and rescue teams have stepped up relief efforts in Haiti as relatives of those still missing from the 7.0-magnitude tremblor begged them to keep up the search. Rescuers had saved 121 people as of late yesterday night in New York, the UN humanitarian affairs office said.

A 25-year-old woman was pulled from a collapsed shopping center in the capital following a nine-hour search, Agence France-Press reported. Survivors pulled from buildings had longer to wait for medical care as hospitals and makeshift clinics were overwhelmed, CNN said. 

keep reading on Bloomburg Business Week »

• Hospital Ship USNS Comfort Gets First Haitian Patients »
• Another quake hits as more ‘points of entry’ open to Haiti »

This week we bring you a photo of the USCG’s Maritime Rescue And Coordination Center in Boston. The Unofficial Coast Guard Blog tells us:

Scattered across the nation are a number of Coast Guard command centers, all staffed by dedicated professionals who work to keep mariners safe. Each Coast Guard sector has a command center, as does each district and area. Among many tasks, these command centers are responsible for “controlling” search and rescue cases. The SAR Controllers assess calls, launch assets, determine search areas, and set search patterns for vessels and aircraft involved in the search.

A controller’s worst nightmare: messing up a SAR case.  Read More…

Here are some views of Rescue Coordination Centers around the world: [Continue Reading →]

Download MP3: Messing About In Ships podcast episode 23 – May 15, 2008

Subscribe Via iTunes HERE

Shownotes:

In this episode Capt. Kelly Sweeney gives us “A Mariner’s Perspective” and we bring you Part II of the harrowing rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard in saving the Sean Seymour II’s crew… an interview with LT Edward W. Ahlstrand,  C-130 rescue pilot who located the vessel in the heavy seas. BUT FIRST… if you haven’t listened already be sure to check out Part I of this series: Interview with USCG Rescue Helicopter Crew.

Here is related video of a USCG C-130 air drop (LINK)

Some years ago in a now defunct navy journal an article was written about what people think when they fall overboard. Several predominant factors were recognized: (1) Do they know I am overboard? (2) What are they doing? (3) How can I help my rescue? After some study and research the following was gleaned:

a. Most victims that fall overboard and are not recovered because their location is not known.

b. Some recovered bodies showed signs of exhaustion rather then drowning.

c. Recovered victims that remained afloat and conserved energy and remained in a position near the wake were recovered soonest.

It was determined that if the person falling overboard had knowledge of the search and rescue procedures it could increase the victims chances of recovery.

Therefore the following was developed:

INSTRUCTIONS IF YOU SHOULD FALL OVERBOARD.

1. Immediately upon notification that some one has fallen overboard or is missing the international signal for man overboard will be sounded on the ships whistle: three blasts (the letter O in the international Morse code) and a vertically fired flare will be launched. A radio message will also be transmitted on area and international frequencies.

2. If you are in sight, the ship will return to your position by the most expeditious means. This may mean simply turning around and coming to you, or if you are not in sight or it is dark or foggy, by using a Williamson Turn to retrace the ship’s track and then start a search for you.

3. Do not panic or try to swim to the ship. Use your shirt, coat or pants to make a flotation pillow.

4. WHEN THE SHIP ARRIVES AT THE START SEARCH POSITION IT WILL BLOW TWO VERY LONG WHISTLE

BLASTS AND LAUNCH A SMOKE FLOAT. The ship will then commence a search for you and will return to that smoke float every 15 minutes and sound a very long blast, and then resume searching.

5. You should swim towards the Start Search Point regardless of what the ship does. Do not swim after the ship.

6. Following these instruction will greatly improve your chances of recovery and can expedite the search.

7. If you need any further clarification ask questions now.

It is recommended this notice be posted on all department bulletin boards.

This article was written by Captain John Denham, a veteran of 66 years maritime experience in seamanship, ship handling, navigation, piloting, and education. he is also author of The Assistant and DD 891.