Watch: 4 Mariners Aboard Disabled Vessel Rescued 180 Miles Off Hawai‘i Island

Four mariners were rescued 180 nautical miles off Hawai‘i Island after their sailing vessel became disabled after its rudder was damaged.

At 9:04 a.m., Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu was alerted by the Shyska crew to their situation. 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, according to a press release from USCG this morning.

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 crew of Joseph Gerczak to assist.

On Sunday, Joseph Gerczak arrived on the scene and began towing the vessel back to Honolulu. During the transit, Joseph 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, according to the release.

The video provided by USCG above shows footage of the USCG crew towing the Shyska into shore.

“With the Sector Honolulu Command Center and our crew’s collective wisdom and creativity we were able to ensure the safety of Shyska and her crew during their navigation to Oahu,” said Lt. Joseph Blinsky, 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.”

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 Oahu.