Thursday, July 19, 2012

Amver participating container ship rescues TransPac race sailor

U.S. Coast Guard rescue personnel in Hawaii received a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alert for the Canadian sailing vessel Bela Bartok on July 15, 2012 and immediately diverted an Amver ship to assist.

The sailboat was participating in a trans-Pacific solo sailboat race from San Francisco, California to Honolulu, Hawaii when the lone yachtsman activated the beacon complaining of a medical emergency.

Rescue authorities, using the Amver system, quickly located the M/V Mokihana and requested the vessel divert to assist the ill sailor. The crew of the Mokihana, managed by Matson Navigation,  was able to embark the ill sailor but left the 31 foot Vindo 40 adrift and marked as a hazard to navigation.

The survivor is receiving medical attention as the Mokihana sails to Oakland.

The M/V Mokihana is one of the Amver systems longest participating vessels. The Mokihana enrolled in Amver on January 1, 1967 and has earned over 27 awards for participation.

Photo credit: marinetraffic.com

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