IMAGERY AVAILABLE: Coast Guard conducts multiple rescues across Northern California in May

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest Contact: 11th District Public Affairs Office: (510) 437-3325 After Hours: (510) 772-8865 11th District online newsroom

Coast Guard conducts multiple rescues across Northern California in May

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MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay crews in Northern California assisted 15 vessels since the beginning of May in the waters near Trinidad, Humboldt Bay, Eel River, Cape Mendocino and Shelter Cove.

Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay and Coast Guard Station Noyo River boat crews assisted 10 disabled vessels so far in May due to engine problems, including the fishing vessels Scorpio and Catch All. All vessels were safely towed back to homeports.

Cases also included Coast Guard crews assisting a disoriented mariner grounding their vessel on the Humboldt Bay jetty, an overdue fishing vessel located and escorted to Ft. Bragg, a vessel experiencing engine problems and taking on water near Shelter Cove and a kayaker in need of assistance off Humboldt Bay.

All mariners in these cases were assisted with no reported injuries.

“Many of the vessels involved in these cases were cited for safety violations as they did not have all of the required safety equipment aboard and two of them had no radio or life jackets,” said Capt. Greg Fuller, Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay’s commanding officer. "Conditions can change at a moment's notice and when mariners do not prepare and ensure they are carrying all of the necessary safety equipment, not only are they jeopardizing their lives, but those of others aboard their vessels. We urge all boaters to ensure they have the necessary safety equipment aboard, especially life jackets for everyone aboard and a VHF marine-band radio to contact the Coast Guard in case of an emergency."

Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay units have been working alongside the Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour, a 154-foot Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) homeported in Los Angeles and deployed to Northern California.

The Rednour is one of the Coast Guard’s newest cutters, which provides the Coast Guard with enhanced response and law enforcement patrol capabilities. It is the first of four FRCs to be stationed in California.

For more information about the Rednour, click here. For more boating safety information, click here.

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