The sailboat, the Nomad, was sailing from Hawaii to Los Angeles when they reported to family they lost main engine and auxiliary power. The crew of the Nomad began making emergency notifications. Coast Guard personnel from the Fourteenth District Command Center heard the Nomad's distress call and contacted the M/V Alpine Maya which was 176 miles away from the Nomad's distress position. The Hong Kong flagged tanker immediately diverted to assist and after steaming over 8 hours Captain Mohan Dhinakaran maneuvered his tanker alongside the sailboat to commence rescue operations.
The four sailors let Captain Dhinakaran know of their intention to abandon ship and quickly climbed aboard the Alpine Maya. The rescued sailors, in an email to the Amver system, praised the actions of the Alpine Maya. "Without you and your crew we would not be alive today," they wrote.
The Alpine Maya is sailing to China where the survivors will be met by U.S. State Department personnel. The Alpine Maya enrolled in the Amver system on July 20, 2010. This case demonstrates how one ship made the difference between life and death for four people.
Photo credit: crew of the M/V Alpine Maya
9 comments:
My heartfelt thanks for rescueing the crew of the Nomad out of Hawaii. Brandon Woodard is my grandson and seeing his picture and all of you, on the A/V Alpine Maya was a wonderful blessing. Thank God for the wonders of the internet. We will be there to welcome him home to Portland, OR.
We are so glad your grandson is safe and will be returning to you soon. If we receive an update from folks in China we'll be sure to post it here. We expect they'll be in China sometime around September 20th.
The ship arrived this morning. I am the mother of Brandon, we are all very thankful for your service and coordination of his rescue. I will keep you updated with his progress home. He enjoyed your "hospitality." Thank you again.
Glad to hear Brandon made it ashore safely. I believe there were some State Department personnel there to meet him and his shipmates. They should be home soon, safe and sound. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We love hearing when a rescue works out for the best.
Thank you so much for rescuing the crew. Brandon Woodard is a close friend of mine, and I am thankful he is okay.
Brandon Woodard arrived in Portland OR, Friday morning September 24, looking good but needing some grooming. Nine family members were there to greet him. Thanks to all who made this a happy ending for our family .
My cousin Brent was one of the four people rescued. I and all my family is very grateful for their rescue. His sister is getting married on Friday and because of the quick response, he'll be able to see her walk down the isle.
This story has such a wonderful ending. Everyone at Amver is happy Brent made it home in time for the wedding. Feel free to have him leave his story on our contact page. We would love to hear what he has to say about the event.
I was offered the opportunity to sail on the delivery of NOMAD from Honolulu to California, I declined mostly due to time constraint.
I sail as Chief Engineer on a Hawaii based Research Ship, and had just completed a three month+ hitch, I was anxious to get home. I had a uncomfortable feeling about sailing on this delivery.
I have Sailed as Captain on a similar voyage, delivering a 45 foot auxillary sail boat from Kona to San Francisco.
September is not a good time to be making this transit, as the weather is deteriorating, it is not a comfortable passage, I got the snot beat out of me in a blow (60+ Knot winds)for three days while hanging on the sea Anchor, got blown backwards 75 miles, when just about to "Turn the Corner", make my turn East on the latitude of my destination, primarily by Celestial navigation.
I have also sailed on delivery of a Three Masted Schooner from Svendeborg Denmark to San Pedro California, Mostly under sail, and by Celestial navigation, delivery of a newbuild from Houma LA to San Pedro, crossed the Atlantic numerous times in various capacities in both Deck and Engine positions, and sailed as Captain of a Research siip in a Middle East Country.
I was not impressed with the mechanical skills and knowledge of the owner and Captain.
By the looks of the pictures the boat was not badly damaged no fire damage is visible, and perhaps the Vessel is still afloat.
It is a sailboat, and does not need to depend on power for propulsion, likely the crossing, and/or return to HNL (Winds are favorable)could have been made sucessfully, and commercial assistance employed to enter the harbor.
Robert J. Tombari
Chief Engineer Unlimited, Motor or Gas Turbine Vessels of Any Horsepower
Master (Limited) 100 Ton Steam or Motor Vessels
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