US Coast Guard Rescues 55-Year-Old Crewman 86 Miles Off Hawaii
A medical evacuation was performed from the Ocean Gladiator as it carried decommissioned US Coast Guard cutters to the.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter evacuated a 55-year-old crewmember from the Ocean Gladiator, a U.S.-flagged tweendecker, 86 miles off Hawaii’s Big Island on Wednesday morning. The patient, who developed a medical issue during the vessel’s voyage from Baltimore to Manila, was hoisted aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and flown to Hilo International Airport for further treatment.
The Ocean Gladiator had initially requested assistance on Tuesday when it was 540 miles southeast of Hawaii, well beyond the range of Coast Guard helicopters. Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Centre (JRCC) Honolulu monitored the situation, with a duty flight surgeon advising that the crewmember required evacuation. Coast Guard watchstanders maintained regular contact with the ship’s crew to track the patient’s condition.
Decommissioned Cutters Bound for the Philippines: Coast Guard
On Wednesday, the Ocean Gladiator had closed to within 86 miles of the Big Island, allowing the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point to reach the vessel. A rescue swimmer was lowered onto the ship’s starboard bridge wing, where the crewmember was secured in a litter and hoisted to safety. The operation concluded at 8:35 a.m. local time, with the patient transported to shore for medical care.
The Ocean Gladiator was not carrying typical containerised freight. Instead, its deck was loaded with two 87-foot Marine Protector-class cutters, decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard and repainted for transfer to the Philippine Coast Guard. The vessel also carried a fuel barge as part of its cargo.
The cutters, formerly known as Marlin and Bluefin, were formally handed over to the Philippine Coast Guard in a ceremony in Baltimore in August. They are expected to enter service as BRP Pag-Asa and BRP Patag upon arrival in the Philippines later this month.
What Happens Next for the Ocean Gladiator?
The Ocean Gladiator itself is a versatile vessel, built in 2010 and flagged into the U.S. registry in 2020. With a capacity of 17,000 dwt or 1,000 TEU, it is equipped with twin 400-tonne heavy lift cranes and a smaller forward crane. The ship is ice-classed and frequently chartered by the Military Sealift Command for Operation Deep Freeze, the annual resupply mission to McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
After the medevac, the Ocean Gladiator resumed its voyage to Manila, where it is expected to deliver the decommissioned cutters to the Philippine Coast Guard. Automatic Identification System (AIS) data confirmed that the vessel continued its course following the evacuation.
Con la entrega de los patrulleros prevista para finales de este mes, la Guardia Costera filipina iniciará su fase de adaptación operativa. El Ocean Gladiator, por su parte, proseguirá su ruta hacia el puerto de Manila, donde completará la transferencia antes de retomar sus misiones programadas. Según lo anunciado, la incorporación de los buques será oficializada en una ceremonia el próximo 30 de agosto.
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