The Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro sails past Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, July 15, 2018. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Trenton Hirschi.
JUNEAU, Alaska — A Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro small-boat crew rescued four kayakers in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, Sunday.
The kayakers activated a personal locator beacon after one of the kayaks overturned. The Douglas Munro small-boat crew transferred the kayakers to the cutter to be medically assessed. The cutter crew transported the kayakers to Juneau, Monday, after no medical concerns were found.
Seventeenth Coast Guard District watchstanders received notification of a personal locator beacon activation from a registered kayaker in Glacier Bay National Park. Watchstanders notified National Park Service personnel, who assumed responsibility for the search. Due to lack of available assets, NPS requested an agency assist from Seventeenth Coast Guard District. Coast Guard watchstanders diverted the crew of the Douglas Munro and requested the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew to conduct the search.
The Douglas Munro crew located the kayakers waving their arms from the shore. The kayakers and one kayak were taken aboard the Douglas Munro with verification of PLB activation from their overturned kayaks.
“At the time of the PLB alert, we were actively patrolling in the area,” said Capt. Kevin Riddle, Douglas Munro commanding officer. “We are thankful that these kayakers were well equipped with an emergency transponder because it allowed us to quickly locate and rescue them.”
Weather on scene was reported as 5-7 mph winds and 2-3 ft seas.
The Douglas Munro is homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. The crew is currently deployed on a three month patrol that will encompass the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean as part of Operation Arctic Shield 2018, and the Gulf of Alaska.
