The Mahi Mahi, operated by SIU-contracted Matson and partially crewed by Seafarers, worked with the Coast Guard to rescue three stranded mariners from a doomed trimaran in the Pacific Ocean on July 8.
The SIU crew aboard the Mahi Mahi included Recertified Chief Steward Gregory Broyles, Chief Cook Carmelo Bartolome Dela Cruz and ACU Kevin Robinson.
The 50-foot trimaran Third Try, which was on a non-stop circumnavigation of the globe, had not reported in for a few days. On the morning of July 7, the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) issued a SAFETYNET broadcast notifying merchant vessels in the region of the situation, and the Mahi Mahi agreed to divert and travel along the Third Try’s suspected route. At 3 p.m. on July 7, watchstanders at the JRCC received an alert from an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) registered to the Third Try. The SAFETYNET broadcast was updated with the new location, and the Coast Guard launched an HC-130 Hercules aircrew with a life raft aboard in response. They also notified the Mahi Mahi of the new location.
The aircrew located the damaged vessel and determined that the sailors needed to be rescued. Early on July 8, the Mahi Mahi arrived on station, 825 miles northeast of Oahu, and rescued the three men from the Trimaran.
“One of our greatest challenges out here in the Pacific is distance,” said Lt. Diane French, a JRCC command duty officer. “First responders are often days away and we regularly rely on merchant vessel crews like the Mahi Mahi’s to assist with search and rescue cases. We are always grateful for their help.”
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