What Crew Members Say About Dalian-Express

On February 20, 2015, a dramatic medevac operation took place as the U.S. Coast Guard successfully airlifted an injured crew member from the vessel "Dalian Express" approximately 170 miles east of Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. The incident commenced the day prior, when the Coast Guard's 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth, Virginia received an urgent report around 4 p.m. from the ship. A 62-year-old male crew member sustained a severe eye injury while performing valve repairs in the engine room, positioned roughly 350 miles offshore. To facilitate the emergency evacuation, the crew aboard the Dalian Express altered their course towards North Carolina, where they were set to rendezvous with a Coast Guard helicopter. Responding swiftly, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a C-130 Hercules aircraft took off from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina around 5:45 a.m. on February 20. Facing challenging conditions, including intermittent snow and icing, the aircrews navigated through adverse weather to reach the Dalian Express by approximately 6:45 a.m. Once on scene, the helicopter crew conducted a successful hoist operation, bringing the injured man safely aboard. He was then transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, where he arrived around 9 a.m. The swift actions of the Coast Guard ensured that the crew member received prompt medical attention, underscoring the critical role of the Coast Guard in maritime safety and emergency response.