The Seri-Emperor: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On August 28, 2024, a significant rescue operation concluded successfully for a woman and her child, along with their pets, after they found themselves in a perilous situation aboard the French 47-foot sailboat 'Albroc' while navigating adverse weather conditions off the coast of Hawaii. The incident began on August 24, when the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Honolulu received an emergency distress signal from an EPIRB at 12:33 p.m., signifying a location approximately 925 miles east of Honolulu. In response, maritime authorities initiated an urgent SafetyNET broadcast and utilized the AMVER system along with the Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center to alert nearby vessels. The Coast Guard also deployed an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point to survey the area. Upon arrival, the Hercules crew spotted the 'Albroc' and picked up a distress call on VHF-FM channel 16 from a 47-year-old woman, who reported that she and her 7-year-old daughter were in urgent need of assistance due to worsening weather conditions. Tragically, the woman disclosed the presence of a deceased crew member onboard. The Hercules crew struggled to establish direct communication with the distressed yacht but witnessed the woman signaling for help by igniting two distress flares as the sailboat drifted and faced high waves. At that time, the weather consisted of 6-foot seas and winds reaching 20 mph. Following this, the JRCC requested support from the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Fleet, redirecting the USS 'William P. Lawrence (DDG 110)' to assist in the mission. Additionally, the master of the AMVER-registered LPG tanker 'Seri Emperor', which was on its route from Balboa to Lianyungang, was also contacted, positioned around 290 miles to the south and estimated to arrive in about 18 hours. By August 25 at 9 a.m., a Hercules aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point returned to the area, spotting the woman and child signaling for help before retreating inside their cabin. Efforts to communicate with them, including radio hails and message blocks, were unfortunately unsuccessful. The 'Seri Emperor' reached the vicinity by 5:20 p.m. but was unable to safely retrieve the woman and child due to the deteriorating weather conditions as Hurricane Gilma approached. The tanker remained on standby until August 26 at 5 a.m., when the USS 'William P. Lawrence' arrived on the scene. Given the forecast of swells exceeding 25 feet within the next 12 hours and the 'Albroc's' damaged state, the destroyer had a limited window to perform the rescue operations. The crew of the 'William P. Lawrence' successfully launched a small boat and rescued the woman, her daughter, a cat, and a tortoise from the sailboat in challenging conditions, with seas of 8 to 10 feet and winds at 15 mph. Unfortunately, adverse weather prevent the recovery of the deceased individual. The destroyer returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu at 5 p.m. on August 28, where Coast Guard representatives and the Honorary Consul of France provided care for the survivors. Meanwhile, the 'Albroc' remained adrift approximately 1,000 miles east of Honolulu, marking a harrowing chapter of maritime rescue efforts in the Pacific.