HONOLULU – The U.S. Coast Guard assisted the Republic of Kiribati with the response to a distressed sailing vessel near Tabuaeran, Kiribati, Sunday.
Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Honolulu watchstanders engaged with Republic of Kiribati search and rescue coordinators at 10 a.m. Sunday and offered assistance with locating the 43-foot sailing vessel Espiritu, believed to be in a remote area on the unpopulated eastern side of Tabuaeran, also known as Fanning Island, with a man and woman aboard. Two Kiribati surface vessels were dispatched to investigate the same location.
A Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130J Super Hercules airplane crew launched at 2 p.m.
The aircrew located the Espiritu at 6:56 p.m. and dropped supplies and a radio to the individuals on the beach near the vessel. The Espiritu was heavily damaged and aground on the east side of Fanning Island, where the Tabuaeran Island Police met the man and woman to provide further assistance.
On Saturday, JRCC Honolulu personnel received an alert from the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) registered to the Espiritu. Because the EPIRB’s location was within the territorial waters of the Republic of Kiribati, JRCC watchstanders forwarded the alert to Kiribati’s search and rescue coordinator, who organized a local response. Kiribati officials searched for the Espiritu but were unable to locate the vessel.
JRCC watchstanders initially received an alert from the Espiritu’s EPIRB on Thursday, about 230 miles northeast of Palmyra Atoll. Watchstanders issued a SafetyNet broadcast, polled the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) database, and diverted the crew of the Vanuatuan cargo ship HK Challenger to the position of the Espiritu. The cargo ship crew transited approximately 120 miles to deliver fuel and supplies to the two individuals aboard the Espiritu.
“We’re committed to supporting our partners in the region,” said Kevin Cooper, search and rescue mission coordinator, U.S. Coast Guard District 14. “The Coast Guard remains dedicated to safeguarding life and property at sea and will always stand ready to assist in times of need.”
The U.S. Coast Guard provides interagency cooperation and international collaboration for multiple global standards for maritime safety, including international search and rescue efforts.
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