SAN PEDRO, Calif. – The Coast Guard responded to a Mayday call from a recreational boat that was disabled and disoriented due to fog and was not equipped with proper navigational equipment, about 8 p.m. in the waters near Ventura, Calif.

Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles – Long Beach received the initial call and Sector San Diego used the newly acquired Rescue 21 system to locate an approximant position. A search area was created using the Rescue 21 radio system, approximately 18 miles north of San Nicholas Islands, Calif.

A Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles MH-65C Dolphin helicopter, a C-130 airplane from Air Station Sacramento, the cutter Narwhal, and a Station Channel Islands Harbor 47-foot Motor Lifeboat were launched to search for the vessel Starfire.

Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach established communication with the Starfire and located it with the help of a Good Samaritan in the area.

The cutter Narwhal arrived on-scene and will tow the Starfire to Channel Island Harbor, Calif.

The Starfire was operating without a working compass, navigational lights, and a Global Positioning System.

Boaters are also reminded to ensure they keep all navigation and safety equipment, such as an operable GPS with them and in proper working condition. A few moments spent at the dock preparing for a possible emergency can help lessen the chance of an actual incident while on the water.

Boaters must ensure they have properly fitting Coast Guard-approved lifejackets onboard and highly recommends all boaters carry a 406 MHz Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon. EPIRBs are designed to float free of a sinking vessel, automatically transmitting a digital distress message to satellites.

For more information about the Rescue 21 system, visit http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/rescue21/project.asp

J O I N T    N E W S    R E L E A S E

U.S. Coast Guard
11^th District:  Lt. Cmdr. Rick Foster
510-557-7104 or 510-437-3325

U.S. Marine Corps
3^rd Marine Air Wing:  Maj. Manuel Delarosa
858-577-6000

U.S. Navy
Commander, Naval Air Forces:  Cmdr. Pauline Storum
619-767-1625

ALAMEDA, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy today released the results of their command investigations into the October 2009 collision of a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft and a Marine AH-1W Cobra helicopter off the coast of Southern California.  All seven Coast Guard aircrew members and both Marine Corps aviators were killed in the crash.

All the investigations concluded that no single factor, person or unit caused the mishap, but that it was a tragic confluence of events.   The three command investigations also concluded there was no misconduct on the part of any Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Navy personnel, and all three made recommendations for improving procedures, training and aviation safety.

“We are using what we found in these investigations to improve aviation safety,” said Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo, Commander of the 11^th Coast Guard District.  “We are committed to preventing a recurrence of this terrible tragedy.  We owe nothing less to the memories of the dedicated men and woman lost in the crash, their families, their shipmates, and the public,” he said.

Military officials did not wait for the investigations to be completed to begin safety improvements.  Immediately after the accident the services began reviewing policies and procedures and have already implemented many of the recommendations in the reports.

Castillo noted that aviators and technical experts from all three branches of the naval aviation community brought their own unique expertise, experience, and perspectives to the investigations.  “The range of opinions and recommendations strengthens our common effort of improving aviation safety,” he said.  “The services have worked closely throughout the investigations and will continue to do so as we implement changes.”

The Coast Guard plane, based in Sacramento, Calif., was conducting a search and rescue mission and the Marine helicopter, based at Camp Pendleton, was involved in training when the two aircraft collided.  Both aircraft were operating in a training area monitored by a Navy air traffic control center in San Diego.

###

The Coast Guard report is available at:
http://www.uscg.mil/foia/reading-room.asp

To obtain a copy of the Marine investigation submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) form to the Joint Law Center at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. A copy of the FOIA form is available on the web at:
http://www.miramar.usmc.mil/jlc/AAWebsite/Civil%20Law%20Website/Links/FOIA%20Request%20Form.doc

The Navy report is available at:
http://www.cpf.navy.mil/foia_rr.shtml

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Coast Guard is reviewing a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation Wednesday that the service develop policies on the use of cellular phones on Coast Guard vessels as well as issue a safety advisory to the marine industry on the possible dangers of crewmember use of electronic communications devices such as cell phones, smart phones and personal data assistants. 

The Coast Guard issued guidance July 16, 2010 to its personnel prohibiting the use of these devices by operators of Coast Guard boats and also restricted their use by other crewmembers.

"While cell phones and texting devices have become ubiquitous in everyday life, the internal Coast Guard policy issued in July prohibits their use on Coast Guard boats without the permission of the coxswain, said Lt. Cmdr. Chris O'Neil, a Coast Guard spokesman. "The policy also strictly prohibits the use of these devices by the coxswain, or the operator, of a Coast Guard boat."

Cell phones and texting devices may be useful communication tools if boats lose a marine radio signal or as alternate means of communication to a marine radio.

The Coast Guard takes the NTSB recommendations seriously and will provide a response to the letter upon a thorough review.

The NTSB recommendation comes amid investigations into two collisions involving Coast Guard boats but does not draw any conclusions that the use of electronic devices was a cause of those accidents.

NTSB and Coast Guard investigations into those two accidents are ongoing.

CATALINA ISLAND, Calif. - The Coast Guard suspended the search for a 45-year-old male that had gone missing near Catalina Island, Sunday, at approximately 10:45 a.m.

The Coast Guard Cutter Edisto crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip crew searched through Sunday night for Frank Cipriano.  A Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles MH-65C Dolphin crew searched at sunrise Monday with no results. 

An area of approximately 370 square miles was exhaustively searched for Cipriano. 

The Coast Guard launched multiple search assets and conducted multiple searches on scene.  The Coast Guard Cutter Halibut, Baywatch Isthmus, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were involved in the search and completed multiple sorties. 

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Cipriano, he or she is urged to contact 911 or the nearest Coast Guard station immediately.  Mariners are asked to keep a sharp lookout for anyone in distress. The search and rescue will remain suspended unless new information emerges.

For further information or media inquiries contact Petty Officer Matthew Schofield, a spokesman for the Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles - Long Beach office at (310) 781-0288.

CATALINA ISLAND, Calif. - The Coast Guard will continue the search through the night for a 45-year-old male that has gone missing near Catalina Island, Sunday, at approximately 10:45 a.m.

The Coast Guard Cutter Edisto crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip crew will continue searching for Frank Cipriano throughout the night.  A Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles MH-65C Dolphin crew will search at sunrise on Monday.  It was reported that he took a trip on the vessel Indecent Proposal's dinghy and had not returned. 

Cipriano is reported to be 5' 9" tall, approximately 160 pounds, wearing a polo T-shirt and black board-shorts. 

The Indecent Proposal is anchored in Cherry Cove, and the dinghy was found one mile off Eagle Reef. 

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Cipriano, he or she is urged to contact 911 or the nearest Coast Guard station immediately.  Mariners are asked to keep a sharp lookout for anyone in distress.

For further information or media inquiries contact Petty Officer Matthew Schofield, a spokesman for the Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles - Long Beach office at (310) 781-0288.

CATALINA ISLAND, Calif. - The Coast Guard is searching for a male in his thirties near Catalina Island, Sunday, who went missing at approximately 10:45 a.m.

A Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew, the Coast Guard Cutter Edisto crew, the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut crew and Baywatch Isthmus are searching for Frank Cipriano, who was aboard the vessel Indecent Proposal. 

He is reported to be approximately 160 pounds, wearing a polo T-shirt and black board-shorts. 

The Indecent Proposal is anchored in Cherry Cove, approximately one mile off Eagle Reef, Catalina Island.

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Cipriano, they are urged to contact 911 or the nearest Coast Guard station immediately, and mariners are asked to keep a sharp lookout for anyone in distress.

For further information or media inquiries contact Petty Officer Matthew Schofield, a spokesman for the Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles - Long Beach office at (310) 781-0288.

CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR, Calif. - The Coast Guard responded to a report of an oil sheen near the Channel Islands Harbor, Sunday, at approximately 10 a.m.

Marine Safety Detachment Santa Barbara personnel and Coast Guard Station Channel Islands personnel responded to the 300 by 200 yard diesel oil sheen in the harbor. 

Responders to the scene have reported that the source of the leak has been secured, and that they have deployed boom and they are using sorbent pads to pick up small amounts of diesel oil. 

The Coast Guard is working with the Channel Islands Harbor municipalities to ensure that the response is done in a timely manner and to minimize potential environmental impact. 

For further information or media inquiries contact Petty Officer Matthew Schofield, a spokesman for the Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles - Long Beach office at (310) 781-0288.

SAN PEDRO, Calif.- The Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of four mariners in distress following a boat fire at 2:15 p.m., Saturday, approximately four miles off the coast of Pt. Vincente.

A 25-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles - Long Beach was on scene with Baywatch Cabrillo, Baywatch Redondo, and Baywatch Isthmus were also on scene to assist with the evacuation of the mariners and to combat the fire. A Good Samaritan in the vicinity of the fire provided initial assistance to the mariners.

VIDEO AVAILABLE HERE:  (Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles video)

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=965567

PHOTO AVAILABLE HERE: (Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles photo) 

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=965614

For further information or media inquiries contact Petty Officer Matthew Schofield, a spokesman for the Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles - Long Beach office at (310) 781-0288.  

SAN PEDRO, Calif.- The Coast Guard is coordinating the rescue of four mariners in distress following a boat fire at 2:15 p.m., Saturday, approximately four miles off the coast of Pt. Vincente.

A 25-foot Response Boat from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles - Long Beach is on scene. Baywatch Cabrillo, Baywatch Redondo, and Baywatch Isthmus are on scene to assist with the evacuation of the mariners and to combat the fire. A Good Samaritan in the vicinity of the fire provided initial assistance to the mariners.

The mariners are reported to be in good condition with no major injuries.

The Coast Guard wishes to remind the public that wearing a life jacket and having the proper life saving equipment is paramount to saving lives and to always file a float plan with a trusted source.

CATALINA ISLAND, Calif. - The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a medevac of a 63-year-old male who experienced chest pains on Catalina Island’s Pebbly Beach at the YMCA Camp Catalina, Thursday, at approximately 5 a.m.

A Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew with a paramedic from the Los Angeles County Fire Department transferred the patient to Torrance Memorial Hospital.

For media inquiries or additional information contact Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles – Long Beach, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Schofield at (310) 521-4260.