Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Sunshine-State

On June 20, 2017, the 68-foot shrimp trawler, the "Footprint," found itself in desperate need of assistance approximately 80 miles southeast of Galveston. At around 9 p.m., the crew onboard issued a mayday distress call via VHF marine band channel 16. While Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston personnel began to monitor the situation, the fishing vessel "Sunshine State" played a pivotal role by intercepting the transmission and relaying critical information to the watchstanders. The "Footprint" was reportedly taking on water rapidly, with its onboard pumps struggling to keep the situation under control. The Coast Guard acted swiftly, launching an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Houston, alongside the Coast Guard Cutter "Pompano," an 87-foot patrol vessel. By 1:26 a.m. on June 21, the helicopter arrived at the scene, but adverse weather conditions thwarted immediate rescue efforts, preventing the deployment of a rescue swimmer. Instead, the aircrew utilized their resources effectively by lowering a dewatering pump, crucial for the crew of the "Footprint" to mitigate the flooding. Thanks to this quick-thinking action, the beleaguered trawler began its journey towards safety at 3:35 a.m., escorted by the courageous crew of the "Pompano." The vessel reached the Freeport jetties at 11:29 a.m., successfully navigating the perilous situation. Throughout the ordeal, the Ocean Sentry crew maintained aerial support, ensuring constant visual contact and communication with both the helicopter and the stranded vessel. This incident highlights the incredible collaboration between the Coast Guard and commercial vessels, ultimately ensuring the safety of those at sea.