SANTA RITA, Guam -- The Coast Guard, Guam Fire Department, and U.S. Navy rescued two people by locating and towing their disabled vessel into Hagåtña Boat Basin, Monday.
“This is a great example of the importance of local agency training and partnerships,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Kuechenberg, operations unit watchstander, Response Coordination Center Guam. “Knowing the capabilities of each other and being able to respond to situations cohesively allows us to save lives seamlessly.”
At 6:24 p.m. (ChST) Monday, RCC Guam watchstanders received a report from Guam Fire Department of a grey and white, 16-foot powerboat disabled off Ritidian Point with two people aboard an in danger of drifting into the rocks.
Guam Fire Rescue crews stated they did not have an actual location of the vessel, but were already en route to Ritidian Point. The RCC Guam team contacted the Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron-25,
based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, who were ready to assist and successfully located the vessel at 7:07 p.m. (ChST).
HSC-25 passed the position to GFR who arrived on the scene, transferred the two people to their response vessel, and put the disabled boat in tow. Coast Guard Station Apra Harbor Launched a 45-Response Boat-Medium crew who took over the tow and successfully brought the disabled vessel into Hagåtña Boat Basin.
The GFR boat crew transported the two boaters back to Hagåtña Boat Basin. Upon arrival, the vessel owner met them, and the Station RB-M team conducted a post-search and rescue boarding.
The weather on scene reported as 12-foot seas with 10 mph winds.