Hazzard To Navigation 172 miles Off Cape Hatteras After Sailors Rescued

BROADCAST VERSION FOR MARITIME MOBILE SERVICE NETWORK AND OTHER RADIO NETS

UPDATE 0745 HRS, 06 NOV 2020. 

THE USCG RCC NORFOLK ADVISED THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE ABANDONED S/V BALI HAI At 0146 hrs UTC 06 NOV 2020 WAS LOCATED AT 36 01.1 N / 071 58 W.

This vessel should be considered a hazard to navigation and may not have any lights on at night. THE USCG ADVISED A COMMERCIAL SALVAGE COMPANY IS ENROUTE TO TOW THE VESSEL BACK TO THE USA.

___________________

UPDATE 0745HRS THURSDAY, 05 NOV 2020. THE USCG RCC NORFOLK ADVISED THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE ABANDONED S/V BALI HAI, A 52 Foot Sailing Vessel IS 35 58.5 N / 071 42.1 W. This vessel should be considered a hazard to navigation and may not have any lights on at night.

_________________

UPDATE 0800 HRS WEDNESDAY, 04 NOV 2020: The USCG RCC Norfolk advised the EPIRB aboard the S/V BALI HAI is still pinging. As of 1246 Hrs UTC, 04 NOV 2020 the vessel was located in position 36 08.33 N / 071 26.67 W. This vessel should be considered a hazard to navigation and may not have any lights on at night.

CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued two boaters from their 52-foot sailing vessel approximately 172 miles east of Cape Hatteras, Monday afternoon, 02 NOV 2020.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard’s 5th District Command Center received a relayed notification from the International Emergency Response Coordination Center regarding two boaters in distress aboard the sailing vessel Bali Hai.

The captain of the sailing vessel initially informed IERCC watchstanders that he had activated his emergency position indicating radio beacon after the vessel’s engines had lost power and was concerned about staying aboard due to rough weather and high seas.

Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City C-130J Hercules aircraft and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews were launched to the scene to assist the crewmembers of the disabled vessel.

Once on scene, the Jayhawk aircrew successfully hoisted both boaters from the vessel and safely transported them back to Air Station Elizabeth City. No injuries were reported.

“We cannot stress enough how critical it is to have a properly registered EPIRB,” said Chief Petty Officer Charles Reaves, a watchstander at the Coast Guard 5th District Command Center. “While having an EPIRB aboard your vessel is important, having it accurately registered allows rescuers be able to determine your location and information in an emergency situation more quickly. The fact these boaters had this equipment, were trained on it and used it properly directly lead to an accurate and timely response.”
-USCG-