The Coast Guard along with the Air Force and several regional authorities are searching for the captain of the Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel “Rising Wind”. Specifically, the 47-year old mariner reported to be missing by the first officer on 12 Ferbuary, at 174 miles northwest of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia.
In fact, it was at 5:44 p.m when the Rescue Coordination Center Australia received a report from the first officer of the bulk carrier, stating that its master was missing.
The carrier’s captain was feeling ill when last seen in his cabin, wearing a dark-blue winter jacket, brown pants, and slippers.
At the time that the crewmewmbers realized that the master was missing, they acted immediately and turned the vessel around, retracing their course.
For the records, the bulk carrier was en-route from Japan to Australia.
In light of the situation the Rescue Coordination Center Australia requested help from the Coast Guard watchstanders on Guam.
At the same time, Guam authorities from their side called the Air Station Barbers Point Hercules aircrew to provide their assist on the search operation.
In cases such as this one, we often rely on our partners in the region to coordinate effective searches and cover vast areas. The Air Force is augmenting our air asset with another aircraft to cover more search area faster than we can do alone.
…said Petty Officer 1st Class Colby Anderson, a Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam watchstander.
Moreover, an Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew, Air Force 36th Wing C-130J Super Hercules aircrew, and the crew of the Rising Wind have joined their forces and are conducting searches so as to find the 47-year old missing master.
Overall, such incidents are a common phenomenon at sea. Recently, the US Coast Guard suspended the search for a missing Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas cruise ship crewmember, 37 miles east of Hillsboro Inlet. Namely, a crewmember from the Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas cruise ship had gone overboard.