CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Coast Guard aided in a rescue of four people from a capsized vessel 11 miles off of the Charleston Harbor Saturday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received notification of the 28-foot pleasure craft taking on water with four adults aboard at 5:39 p.m. Saturday via the boater’s VHF-FM marine radio.
Watchstanders immediately issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast over VHF radio, requesting for other boaters’ in the area to assist.
Hearing the distress call over the radio, a Charleston Branch Pilot boat located the then capsized vessel and recovered all four boaters from the water at 6:40 p.m.
Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Charleston transferred the boaters from the pilot boat and aboard the Coast Guard 41-foot Utility Boat at 6:44 p.m.
The boaters were transported to the shore with no medical concerns. All four boaters were reported to be wearing a life jacket.
All mariners are encouraged to invest in a VHF-FM marine-band radio as their primary means of communication on the water. VHF-FM marine-band radios are far more reliable than cells phones in the marine environment. The Coast Guard monitors VHF-FM Channel 16, the international hailing and distress channel, around the clock. In addition, all mariners in the vicinity will hear distress calls broadcast over VHF-FM Channel 16. Urgent safety information and weather reports for boaters are also broadcast over marine band radio channels.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Coast Guard aided in a rescued of four people from a capsized vessel 11 miles off of the Charleston Harbor, Saturday, Mar. 30, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
Thank you to the US Coast Guard for helping save our brother Chad and the 3 other men. You and God made our Easter!