USCGC Mohawk is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Fontenette.
HOUSTON — Coast Guard RB-M and MH-65 Dolphin crews assisted seven boaters aboard a vessel taking on water offshore Freeport, Texas, Sunday.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received a call on VHF-FM channel 16 at 11:40 a.m. from a boater stating their 26-foot catamaran was taking on water about 20 nautical miles offshore. The six adults and one minor aboard the catamaran were all reportedly wearing life jackets.
The vessel’s operator stated there may be a hole in the hull of the vessel and that the five pumps on board were barely keeping up with the flooding.
Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Freeport 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew and Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin Short-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew to assist.
After receiving notification that a catamaran was taking on water with seven people aboard, the Station Freeport crew escorted the vessel and boaters safely ashore.
U.S. Coast Guard photo, courtesy Station Freeport.
The boat and helicopter crews rendezvoused with the catamaran, which was heading ashore. Upon discovering that the catamaran was still taking on water now with only three pumps functioning, the RB-M crew escorted the seven boaters and vessel to Freeport Marina.
«All mariners should equip their boats with Coast Guard-approved life jackets, a working VHF radio and an EPIRB before heading offshore,» said Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Smith, communications unit controller, Sector Houston-Galveston. «The boaters we assisted today were able to call for help right away using their radio and were safer thanks to their life jackets. Additionally, we were able to track their position via EPIRB, which is essential when a situation deteriorates.”
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