Discover the Ah-Union: Ratings & Maritime News

On November 28, 2013, a heroics-filled Thanksgiving medevac was successfully executed by a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter 'Morgenthau.' They responded to a medical emergency involving an injured crew member aboard the container vessel 'Kerveros,' which was approximately 86 miles off the coast of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The call for help came in at 11:29 a.m. from the 'Kerveros' captain after a crew member was discovered unconscious in his cabin. The 'Kerveros' was located around 115 miles northwest of Dutch Harbor during its journey from Canada to China, navigating the challenging North Pacific Great Circle route. Once the vessel reached the 86-mile mark from Dutch Harbor, the Dolphin helicopter crew took off in urgency, conducting an impressive and timely hoist maneuver upon arrival at the scene. Standing by was the 'Morgenthau,' homeported in Honolulu, ready to offer additional support if necessary. In a coordinated effort, the Dolphin crew safely lifted the 43-year-old Filipino crew member aboard and swiftly transferred him to awaiting commercial medevac services back in Dutch Harbor. He was then set for further transportation to Anchorage for advanced medical treatment. At the time of the rescue, the weather posed significant challenges with winds reaching 40 mph and seas towering at 13 feet, making the operation all the more commendable.