What Crew Members Say About Sheng-Ping-Hai

On March 27, 2025, a dramatic medical evacuation unfolded on the Hudson River when a crew member aboard the bulk carrier 'Sheng Ping Hai' sustained a serious spinal injury. The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. as the vessel navigated southward near Catskill. The Coast Guard’s New York Command Center received an urgent distress signal, prompting immediate action. The injured party, a 23-year-old male fourth assistant engineer from China, had been performing his duties when the injury occurred shortly after the ship had set sail from Albany, en route to Barranquilla. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the Coast Guard consulted with an on-call flight surgeon, who advised that a medevac procedure was necessary. Swift coordination ensued with the local Sheriff’s Office, which quickly deployed deputies to the scene. Working in tandem with the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter 'Wire' based in Saugerties, and the Diaz Memorial Ambulance Service, the team sprang into action. The Sheriff’s patrol vessel, named 'M27,' arrived alongside the 'Sheng Ping Hai' just south of the iconic Saugerties Lighthouse. As the cargo ship maintained a steady course downriver, emergency responders strategically transferred the injured sailor using a rescue basket, lowering him onto the Sheriff’s vessel with precision. Once safely aboard the 'M27,' the injured crew member was swiftly transported to shore. He was then taken to the Coast Guard’s Saugerties station, where a waiting ambulance rushed him to Health Alliance Hospital in Kingston. Fortunately, his injuries were later assessed as non-life-threatening. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the injury. For a detailed report and photos of the rescue, visit: https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/newrochelle/hudson-river-rescue-worker-hoisted-to-safety-after-suffering-spinal-injury-on-cargo-ship/