The Seafarers-crewed USNS Seay on May 8 and 9 helped assist in the rescue of four individuals who were caught in a Nor’easter about 400 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.In a communication to the crew and officers of the Seay, U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea noted, “Your quick response and expert seamanship during a severe Nor’easter helped save four lives. Thank you for a job well done.”
Operated by SIU-contracted AMSEA, the Seay was diverted to assist after a 45-foot sailboat (the Almeisan) became disabled in the 50-mph winds and 25-foot seas. Before the Seay and another ship as well as Coast Guard personnel reached the scene, one of the boaters drowned. The other four were saved.
AB William “Buzz” Brown said, “Our ship was designated as the command vessel for the search. Everyone did a good job and we were all glad to help. It was an amazing experience.”
SIU members sailing aboard the Seay during the rescue included Recertified Bosun John Wells, ABs Brown, Peter Wojcikowski, Richard Otto, Kyle Bloom, John Kamara and Robert Joyce, STOS Rodolfo Zena, QMEDs Robert Lee and Monroe Monseur, Oiler Adam Begleiter, Recertified Stewards Roger Griswold and Andrew Austin, Chief Cook John Bukowsky and SA Kenneth McKinley.
Tom Madden, the Seay’s master, said in a communication to AMSEA that the crew “did a very good job under severe weather conditions.”
In a separate note to the company, Madden noted that the Seay initially was contacted by the Coast Guard and told to proceed “to a search area for the sailboat and two crew in a life raft. En route, we were informed that the life raft did not contain any people and we were directed to the sailboat’s position. We arrived in force 6 weather to provide a lee to the sailboat and await the arrival of the rescue helicopter.
“At one point the yacht was within five feet of the vessel, but a line could not be made fast to the yacht by those on board her,” Madden continued. “We continued to give a lee and the copter put a rescue swimmer in the water to retrieve the three souls aboard. After this, we were made on-scene commander of the search and rescue portion for the missing two crew. Two C-130s (airplanes) were directed to put markers in the last known site and these led to the search grid being adjusted. At 0345 the missing seamen were found.”
The surviving man was brought aboard a different ship, as was the body of the deceased individual.
The boaters were caught off-guard by the sudden storm, and subsequently spent 14 hours adrift. According to newspaper reports, they activated the boat’s emergency radio beacon and then tried to make ready the lifeboat. A wave then washed two of the boaters overboard along with the raft.
Skipper Thomas Tighe, 65, an experienced boater, perished.
One of the survivors described everyone involved in the rescue as “the utmost professionals,” according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
###
Printer Friendly Page
