Coast Guard Assists 4 Mariners Aboard Disabled Vessel 180 Miles Off Hawaiʻi Island

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Jospeh Gerczak assisted four mariners aboard the disabled 38-foot sailing vessel Shyska 180 nautical miles off Hawaiʻi Island, Wednesday, April 13.

The vessel became disabled after damage to its rudder and the Coast Guard towed the vessel until repairs were made at sea at which point the cutter escorted the Shyska to port and Sector Honolulu watchstanders monitored the vessel’s journey.

“With the Sector Honolulu Command Center and our crew’s decades of wisdom and collective creativity we were able to ensure the safety of the Shyska’s crew during their navigation to Oahu,” said LT Joseph Blinsky, the Joseph Gerczak’s commanding officer. “Our team trains hard to ensure we are prepared for cases just like this one and we were able to conduct this difficult operation in seas over 10 feet and winds above 20 mph.”

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders first received the report of the disabled vessel northeast of Hawaiʻi Island on Saturday, April 9 at 9:04 a.m.

The crew reported they were in good health with emergency supplies for several days and the vessel’s sails had been battered in a recent storm while their engine was inoperable.

Sector Honolulu Command Center put the vessel on a communication schedule, issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast notice to mariners, and deployed an Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew and the crew of the Joseph Gerczak to assist.

On Sunday the crew of the Joseph Gerczak arrived on scene and began towing the vessel back to Honolulu. During the transit, the Jospeh Gerczak’s crew passed tools and fuel over to the Shyska’s crew who were able to effect repairs on the vessel and continue under their own power.

The crew of the Joseph Gerczak and Sector Honolulu Command Center continued to monitor the Shyska’s journey until 3 p.m. when the sailing vessel arrived safely at Ala Wai Harbor on Oʻahu.