Loss of KELAERIN Rescue of Crew June 2018

[MrSteve007]

Originally Posted by Paul L

It all comes down to whether the incident is deemed as in distress. There is a flow chart for the decision makers attached here. Also check chapter 4 here

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/C...0M16130.2F.pdf

That excellent flowchart is for the SAR Mission Coordinator to launch Coast Guard assets. It’s the first part in the chain involved with a SAR case. The Coast Guard Coxswain (small boat driver), also can make the go/no go call for a tow, depending on the situation. There are a ton of factors, usually dependent on the risk to life, and potential for the case to become life threatening.

Some of the factors include: how far out are they, are there injuries involved, are there elderly/children aboard, what is their food/water situation, is commercial tow assistance more than an hour away, does the situation call for a MARB (marine assistance request broadcast), the weather/sea conditions, condition of the boat, time of day, etc.

For example, if someone was simply out of gas in the middle of the day, outside of vessel traffic lanes, had food/water, good radios and within cellphone range, the Coast Guard would simply monitor the situation, and would only get involved if no commercial tow operator came to help within a reasonable time (about 2 hours in good conditions), and no other mariners responded to the MARB.

However, if a pleasure craft with a couple kids aboard ran out of gas, near some commercial shipping lanes, a storm was forecast to arrive later that day, and sea tow wasn’t able to assist immediately, the CG would send out a SAR asset, due to the higher risk involved with children and an incoming storm.