CAPE MAY, N.J.– The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dependable is scheduled to return Friday to its homeport of Cape May, N.J., following a 52 day patrol of the North Atlantic between North Carolina and Massachusetts.
The crew was charged with enforcing fisheries and safety regulations, as well as marine mammal protection laws. During a patrol marked with frequent high seas and inclement weather, the crew of the Dependable conducted over 50 boardings and assisted in three search and rescue cases.
Just two days after getting underway, the cutter was called to assist in the search for the fishing vessel Lady May. The Lady Mary sank while scalloping approximately 60 miles offshore of New Jersey. The crew of the Dependable recovered the vessel’s emergency beacon, life raft, and life ring.
In April, the crew responded to a collision between the motor vessel Florida and the fishing vessel Dictator. While there were no injuries, the Dictator suffered damage to the rudder and the Dependable crew remained on scene until the the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Finback arrived to establish a tow.
In early May, the crew of the Dependable was diverted to assist an injured crew member aboard the fishing vessel Araho, which was operating 170 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Mass. While navigating through dense fog, the crew of the Dependable located the vessel and transferred the fisherman aboard. Members of the crew gave the fisherman medical care while the crew of the Dependable sailed closer to shore to facilitate a medevac. As the fog cleared, a Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod arrived on scene, hoisted the injured man off the Dependable’s flight deck and transported him to Boston General Hospital.
The crew of the Dependable’s first port call was in Wilmington, N.C., during the 62nd Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival, where the cutter hosted over 2000 visitors for tours. Other port calls included Philadelphia, Boston and Newport, R.I.
