Contact:  Allyson Matley (FKNMS)        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jeanne Kouhestani (NOAA Corps)          3/27/98

The former manager of the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary was instrumental in rescuing a sinking sailboat last week in sanctuary waters, through his new position in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as commanding officer of the NOAA ship Ferrel.

Lt. Cmdr. Paul Moen, NOAA Corps, and his officers and crew aboard the Ferrel responded to a MAYDAY call before dawn from the sailboat Surprise, which was taking on water and beginning to sink in heavy seas offshore and to the north of Carysfort Reef.

"I maneuvered the Ferrel slowly alongside the Surprise, which was beam-to the seas and rolling wildly," Moen said. "Though there was danger of the mast striking the ship, the maneuver went smoothly and we soon had the vessel tied up snugly to our starboard quarter. Lt. Morris, Lt. Score and the Chief Engineer boarded the Surprise and began to assist the owner in dewatering the vessel."

The towing and salvage service firm Sea-Tow of Key Largo, which was monitoring the radio communications, offered to help and soon arrived at the scene. Sea-Tow continued dewatering operations and with the assistance of a diver was able to find and plug the source of the leak underneath the sailboat. The Ferrel stayed on scene until Moen was sure that the situation was under control.

"It was especially gratifying to be able to help someone within sanctuary waters because of my previous affiliation as manager," Moen said. "I used to spend my time working to protect and manage sanctuary resources, so protecting a "human" resource within sanctuary waters from the vantage point of ship commander was an interesting turn of events."

Moen, his officers, and civilian crew are from the Office of NOAA Corps Operations. The NOAA Corps, the nation's seventh service, operates and manages the agency's fleet of ships and aircraft. Officers rotate between ship (or aircraft) and shoreside positions. The Ferrel, home ported in Charleston, S.C., is a 133-foot coastal and estuarine oceanographic research vessel that operates along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The ship is currently conducting research operations in the Florida Keys in support of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary through April 1.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Ferrel will host an open house for media and the public on Sunday, March 29, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., at Mallory Square in Key West.