3 rescued 51 nautical miles from Chuuk

SANTA RITA, Guam—Three men aboard a missing 19-foot skiff were located by a merchant vessel, after departing Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia three days earlier.

At 3:55 pm, on April 4, 2016, watch standers at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam’s Rescue Sub-Center (RSC) received a report from the Chuuk SAR Liaison regarding an overdue 19-foot skiff in the Federated States of Micronesia with three adult males aboard. The vessel departed on April 2nd for a fishing trip from Weno Atoll to Ollan Island and had planned to return to Tol Atoll later that evening. RSC Guam reached out to local and state authorities within FSM and the U.S. Embassy in Pohnpei to support and coordinate search efforts for the missing men and their vessel.

Watch standers from RSC Guam used the Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) Optimal Planning System, a computer-based SAR planning tool to develop search patterns for the responding vessels. Radio and satellite broadcasts were made advising

mariners of the distress. RSC Guam also contacted U.S. Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Hawaii to coordinate the launch of available aircraft to aid in the search for the missing vessel.

Multiple resources from FSM and the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system were contacted to conduct searches for the missing vessel. Search resources included eight local boats, the 787-foot, Liberia flagged, bulk carrier, REIHOU, and a 751-foot, Panama flagged, bulk carrier, ENERGY GLORY.

During the early morning hours of April 5th, after drifting for more than three days, the missing men and their vessel were located by the AMVER vessel ENERGY GLORY, approximately 51 nautical miles southwest of Chuuk. The men were taken aboard the ENERGY GLORY and received food and water. ENERGY GLORY transferred the men to a local small boat approximately 10 nautical miles off Chuuk.

All three men arrived ashore with no reported injuries. Two multi-national coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) responses have occurred within FSM waters over the last seven days. Each SAR response resulted in survivors being aided by a participating AMVER vessel. On March 30th, the 770-foot, Panama flagged, bulk carrier, SHORYU rescued three men approximately 31 nautical miles north-east of Puluwat, FSM. The men were adrift for two days, prior to their rescue.