
The Coast Guard completed the medevac of an ailing man from a commercial fishing vessel 480 miles offshore of Honolulu on Aug. 23.
Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Honolulu watchstanders said they received a call at 1:45 p.m. Aug. 19 from Pacific Fishing & Supply personnel. They reported that a 53-year-old crew member aboard the 68-foot fishing vessel Autumn was exhibiting stroke-like symptoms about 750 miles offshore.
The Autumn crew estimated they were six days’ transit from Oahu.
JRCC Honolulu watchstanders advised the vessel’s master to continue toward Oahu, then conferred with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac.
Watchstanders directed the crew of Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane to rendezvous with the Autumn about 480 miles offshore of Oahu to conduct the medevac.
The Harriet Lane crew arrived on scene with the Autumn at 4:05 p.m. Aug. 21, took the ailing crewman aboard and began transiting ashore.
At 6:30 a.m. Aug. 23, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu met the Harriet Lane near the entrance to Honolulu Harbor, took aboard the patient and brought him to Station Honolulu.
Emergency medical services personnel then transported the patient to Queen’s Medical Center. He was reportedly in stable condition.
Coincidentally, also on Aug. 23 the Harriet Lane returned to Honolulu from a 68-day patrol in support of Coast Guard District 14’s Operation Blue Pacific in Oceania.
The Harriet Lane departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in June and traveled more than 13,400 nautical miles spanning from the Hawaiian Islands to Tonga, according to the Coast Guard.
“Patrolling in support of Operation Blue Pacific, the cutter’s crew worked alongside Pacific Island countries to forge and advance relationships with like-minded allies and partners who share a common vision for maritime governance,” the Guard said in a statement.
The crew’s efforts included enhancing maritime domain awareness, combatting illegal fishing activities across Oceania and participating in exercises to bolster partner capacity and interoperability.
Under maritime law enforcement agreements with Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands, the Harriet Lane crew conducted six boardings alongside Pacific Island partners in their respective exclusive economic zones.
Additionally, Harriet Lane law enforcement teams conducted four fishery boardings on the high seas in conjunction with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
During Harriet Lane’s patrol, the crew made port calls in Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. It was when transiting home that the Harriet Lane crew conducted the medevac of the fishing vessel crewman.