Posted:
September 29, 2016
By Captain Yann Durieux
Master, C.S. Dependable
17 September 2016
The C.S. Dependable conducted a rescue of 14 fishermen while in transit between work sites off the Maharashtra Coast near Mumbai, India between 1212 LT (0642 GMT) and 1343 LT (0813 GMT). Their boat had sunk with 16 persons aboard at some point in the early hours before sunrise. They had no PFDs or VHF radio. They had managed to cling to floating debris, some just treading water.
Rescue effort: All hands were spread out on weather decks, bow, gangways, stern and bridge as lookouts. Deck gang and security team were at the gangways to recuperate men from the water. Reports came to the bridge by radio. We would focus a team to maintain lookout as we made way to the victims. Chief mate was on deck and cable highway managing ladders and gangways. Security team members were in harnesses on gangway. Personnel from all departments were at rails to send out life rings to persons in water. The ROV supervisor was at the bow with radio calling in sightings. Chief engineer had a fourth generator put on and assisted in search. I was trying to move the ship to the men keeping them away from thrusters. This required constant and good communication with personnel on deck keeping me apprised of the victims' relative positions. This was made difficult as we had about 2.5 knots of surface current (swell and wind generated). We used the CCTV system to monitor gangway pilot ladders but this was difficult due to rain. Too much happened for me to be able to recount everyone's contribution. I can tell you there were no idle souls.
The Indian Naval Vessel F43 and Indian Coast Guard Vessel 201 arrived onsite and began searching for remaining survivors with us. We heard on the VHF that F43 rescued another survivor. However, we later learned the rescue boat launched from F43 did not recover the fisherman. We heard mention that the Coast Guard had found a body over the radio. We are not sure at this time if this was a miscommunication as we later heard that they were continuing SAR Ops.
The MDR & security team medic attended to the rescued persons on the cable highway. Steward and crew had staged mattresses on the highway so we could keep them all together and better assist them. Crew, ROV and security team helped them. They were given food and water and many slept or rested utterly exhausted. We brought them shirts, blankets and flip-flops (all we had for feet) from the slop chest.
The EIC plotted positions of each recovered person. Pattern was falling further and further SE through the Oil Block past oil rigs and into shallower water.
The Indian Coast Guard Vessel 201 asked us to prepare personnel for transfer. They sent a boat to recover seven persons. The transfer operation was difficult at best owing to many factors, weather being the predominant one. The Coast Guard boat seemed to be drastically underpowered. We had to make way to the boat in a controlled drift to make the transfer, passing through the oil field. Squalls would pass through complicating the transfer. We came close to aborting the operation but were finally able to make some sort of lee. It was not ideal but we struggled through. We had to hold the operation as a squall passed through just as we had filled the first boat. When the boat came a second time for the last seven on board, we had turned the vessel around and were able to make a better lee again at a controlled 2+ knot drift and some headway. The second transfer went more smoothly.
We stayed on station near the CG 201 until we had confirmation that all 14 were aboard safely. At this point it was dark and we were heading closer to shallow water contours. The Coast Guard released us and we departed.
The value of this crew was demonstrated in its attitude and commitment to this rescue, some in very visible ways, like fishing men out of the water or throwing life rings to men in the water, and others in subtle ways, like bringing food to the victims, helping them up the gangway, tending to their needs, etc. We did what we would want done for us if we were in the water. I truly am proud to have worked with all persons aboard. They should all be commended for their efforts.
Members of American Maritime Officers working aboard the Dependable during the rescue included Captain Yann Durieux, Chief Mate Tristan Schulz, First Officer Erick Amiscosa, Third Mate Allison Lashmet, Third Mate Michael Squillacote, Third Mate John Locks, Chief Engineer Curtis King, First Assistant Engineer Robert Carlstad, Second A.E. Isabelo Fernandez, Second A.E. John Crawford, Third A.E. Ryan Mulligan, Third A.E. Matthew Pastuszak and Third A.E. Gregory Thomas.
C.S. Dependable rescues 14 fishermen near Mumbai, India
By Captain Yann Durieux
Master, C.S. Dependable
17 September 2016
The C.S. Dependable conducted a rescue of 14 fishermen while in transit between work sites off the Maharashtra Coast near Mumbai, India between 1212 LT (0642 GMT) and 1343 LT (0813 GMT). Their boat had sunk with 16 persons aboard at some point in the early hours before sunrise. They had no PFDs or VHF radio. They had managed to cling to floating debris, some just treading water.
Rescue effort: All hands were spread out on weather decks, bow, gangways, stern and bridge as lookouts. Deck gang and security team were at the gangways to recuperate men from the water. Reports came to the bridge by radio. We would focus a team to maintain lookout as we made way to the victims. Chief mate was on deck and cable highway managing ladders and gangways. Security team members were in harnesses on gangway. Personnel from all departments were at rails to send out life rings to persons in water. The ROV supervisor was at the bow with radio calling in sightings. Chief engineer had a fourth generator put on and assisted in search. I was trying to move the ship to the men keeping them away from thrusters. This required constant and good communication with personnel on deck keeping me apprised of the victims' relative positions. This was made difficult as we had about 2.5 knots of surface current (swell and wind generated). We used the CCTV system to monitor gangway pilot ladders but this was difficult due to rain. Too much happened for me to be able to recount everyone's contribution. I can tell you there were no idle souls.
The Indian Naval Vessel F43 and Indian Coast Guard Vessel 201 arrived onsite and began searching for remaining survivors with us. We heard on the VHF that F43 rescued another survivor. However, we later learned the rescue boat launched from F43 did not recover the fisherman. We heard mention that the Coast Guard had found a body over the radio. We are not sure at this time if this was a miscommunication as we later heard that they were continuing SAR Ops.
The MDR & security team medic attended to the rescued persons on the cable highway. Steward and crew had staged mattresses on the highway so we could keep them all together and better assist them. Crew, ROV and security team helped them. They were given food and water and many slept or rested utterly exhausted. We brought them shirts, blankets and flip-flops (all we had for feet) from the slop chest.
The EIC plotted positions of each recovered person. Pattern was falling further and further SE through the Oil Block past oil rigs and into shallower water.
The Indian Coast Guard Vessel 201 asked us to prepare personnel for transfer. They sent a boat to recover seven persons. The transfer operation was difficult at best owing to many factors, weather being the predominant one. The Coast Guard boat seemed to be drastically underpowered. We had to make way to the boat in a controlled drift to make the transfer, passing through the oil field. Squalls would pass through complicating the transfer. We came close to aborting the operation but were finally able to make some sort of lee. It was not ideal but we struggled through. We had to hold the operation as a squall passed through just as we had filled the first boat. When the boat came a second time for the last seven on board, we had turned the vessel around and were able to make a better lee again at a controlled 2+ knot drift and some headway. The second transfer went more smoothly.
We stayed on station near the CG 201 until we had confirmation that all 14 were aboard safely. At this point it was dark and we were heading closer to shallow water contours. The Coast Guard released us and we departed.
The value of this crew was demonstrated in its attitude and commitment to this rescue, some in very visible ways, like fishing men out of the water or throwing life rings to men in the water, and others in subtle ways, like bringing food to the victims, helping them up the gangway, tending to their needs, etc. We did what we would want done for us if we were in the water. I truly am proud to have worked with all persons aboard. They should all be commended for their efforts.
Members of American Maritime Officers working aboard the Dependable during the rescue included Captain Yann Durieux, Chief Mate Tristan Schulz, First Officer Erick Amiscosa, Third Mate Allison Lashmet, Third Mate Michael Squillacote, Third Mate John Locks, Chief Engineer Curtis King, First Assistant Engineer Robert Carlstad, Second A.E. Isabelo Fernandez, Second A.E. John Crawford, Third A.E. Ryan Mulligan, Third A.E. Matthew Pastuszak and Third A.E. Gregory Thomas.