Discover the Delta-Eurydice: Ratings & Maritime News

In a dramatic rescue operation, the U.S. Coast Guard, alongside partner organizations, successfully saved Philip Grenz, the solo sailor of the disabled sailing ship 'Epic,' approximately 310 nautical miles southwest of Oahu. The incident took place on September 10, 2021, when the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) 'William Hart' located Grenz, who had been unaccounted for since September 2. Thankfully, he was found in stable condition and was subsequently taken back to Oahu. The search for Grenz began on September 4 at 1:25 a.m., after Sector Honolulu watchstanders received word that he had departed from Nawiliwili Harbor but had not reached his planned destination at Haleiwa, Oahu. Immediate action was taken; watchstanders alerted mariners via an urgent marine information broadcast and dispatched search crews from the Coast Guard, including assistance from the Auxiliary. This collaborative effort saw searches conducted at more than 20 harbors, boat ramps, and marinas across Oahu and Kauai. On September 9 at 10:30 a.m., a Navy P-8 Poseidon aircrew successfully identified Grenz's vessel adrift in the ocean. Shortly thereafter, an Air Station Barbers Point C-130 Hercules crew delivered a vital rescue kit containing a radio, water, and food to the mariner. To further assist in the rescue, watchstanders requested that the nearby tanker 'Delta Eurydice,' traveling from Barbers Point Kalaeloa to Honolulu, maintain its presence near the disabled boat until the arrival of CGC 'William Hart' around 7:20 a.m. In conjunction with the rescue operations, Sector Honolulu also issued a Hazard to Navigation Broadcast to caution other mariners about the disabled vessel's location. According to reports, the weather conditions at the scene featured winds of 11 mph and seas reaching up to five feet, posing additional challenges to the operation.