Motor vessel Tor Viking crew rescues a distressed mariner from his disabled 30-foot sailboat approximately 400 miles south of Cold Bay, Alaska, Oct. 20, 2015.
The mariner alerted the U.S. Coast Guard with his emergency position indicating radio beacon.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard monitored the rescue of a mariner in distress aboard a 30-foot sailboat approximately 400 miles south of Cold Bay, Alaska.
The good Samaritan crew of Tor Viking, a vessel contracted under Shell, safely recovered the mariner and his cat.
Coast Guard 17th District watchstanders received an alert from the mariner’s emergency position indicating radio beacon. Watchstanders launched an Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules airplane and directed Coast Guard Cutter Munro to get underway from Dutch Harbor to assist.
Alaska Rescue Coordination Center also launched two MH-60 helicopters and a refueling aircraft for long-range missions to assist with the case.
The C-130 arrived on scene and made contact with the distressed mariner who reported that he had no rudder or rigging and was taking on heavy seas.
A nearby Shell vessel, Polar Pioneer, dispatched the vessel Tor Viking to assist the mariner after being contacted by the C-130 crew.
“The assistance of the good Samaritans on this long-range distress call was vital for the success of the rescue,” said Bud Holden, a Coast Guard 17th District watchstander. “The crew of Tor Viking battled 20-foot seas and gale force winds to help a fellow mariner.”
Weather on scene was reported as 20-foot seas and 46 mph winds.