rescue

Even as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency works at strenthening its Maritime and Fafety apparatus for safer maritime operations in Nigerian and indeed the African Continent, the US Coast Guard has evacuated a crewman, suffering from cardiac issues, from the 142,105 dwt containership Maersk Eindhoven while the vessel was sailing off Alaska.

On November 16, Maersk Eindhoven’s captain reported that the 53-year-old male seafarer needed medical attention. At the time, the ship was some 600 miles off the coast of Cold Bay.

After notifying the Coast Guard flight surgeon, due to the vast distance offshore, the captain was advised to make best course and speed to Cold Bay so a safe medevac could be conducted.

A coast guard helicopter was deployed for the operation. The helicopter met the ship some 200 miles off the coast, where the medevac was undertaken. Weather at the scene of the medevac was 25-mph winds and 10-foot seas.

The crewman was hoisted and transported to Cold Bay where a LifeMed aircraft crew transported him to Anchorage, Alaska, for further medical care.