US Coast Guard to the rescue

The work done by the U.S. Coast Guard extends far beyond its nation’s shores, which is good news for a family that went missing in the waters off of Micronesia. When the engine on their 23-foot single-outboard skiff failed during a short passage, the 418-foot Midgett, a Legend-class cutter of the US Coast Guard, came to the rescue.

On April 6, the crew of Midgett located the boat carrying two men and one woman seven days after their March 30 departure. At the height of search planning, the predicted search area exceeded 14,000 square nautical miles in rough seas with waves reaching 10 feet. All three survivors were rescued and uninjured.

“National Security Cutter crews spend most of their time executing maritime law enforcement missions,” said Capt. Brian Whisler, commanding officer of Midgett. “SAR cases like this one are not routine for our platform. Our bridge watchstanders spotted the small skiff in rough seas just after midnight, and that kind of situational awareness does not happen by accident. It is what this crew trains for, and I could not be prouder of how they performed.”

Throughout its current Indo-Pacific region patrol, Midgett’s crew works with regional partners and participates in joint operations to enhance maritime safety and security. While deployed to the region, Midgett is assigned to the US Navy’s largest destroyer squadron which routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.