Contact: Mike Laurs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scott Smullen 2/09/96
Honolulu -- The crew and scientists of the federal research vessel Townsend Cromwell dropped their swordfish sampling work to save two injured fishermen and their sinking fishing vessel Red October, 550 miles northeast of Honolulu on Wednesday, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today. At midnight Tuesday, Feb. 6, NOAA's Townsend Cromwell started the hunt for the Red October under rough seas after receiving the distress report of two injured fishermen and their 75- foot boat taking on water with nearly three feet already onboard. Early Wednesday morning and 286 nautical miles later, the research crew found a crippled Red October and immediately started rescue operations. "The crew and scientific party performed courageously and flawlessly under bad weather conditions to save the Red October and her crew," said NOAA Corps Lt. Cmdr. Rusty Brainard, commanding officer of the Townsend Cromwell. "Our first concern was to save lives and stop the oncoming water. Within an hour our medical personnel had stabilized the two injured fishermen, and our engineers had stopped the leaks and fixed their dewatering pumps by the next day." The U.S. Coast Guard asked the NOAA crew and scientists to respond to the distress and stand by to assist the disabled fishing boat because of an approaching storm. Before the NOAA ship arrived, a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft had air-dropped the Red October a pump to bail water. The two injured fishermen were transferred to the Townsend Cromwell in stable condition, received further medical attention and were returned to the Red October the next day reportedly in good condition. The NOAA crew also transferred drinking water, food, dry clothes and bedding to the other four fishermen and performed repairs to the Red October's leaky propeller shaft area and fixed the water pumps. On Thursday, two Townsend Cromwell engineers, the chief bosun, and navigation officer inspected repairs, tested the engine, transferred more food and water, and declared the Red October seaworthy. The NOAA ship was then relieved of rescue responsibilities by the U.S. Coast Guard's Joint Rescue Coordination Office in Honolulu that afternoon. The Red October is expected to return to Honolulu by Monday. The Townsend Cromwell will resume its research cruise to perform biological studies and stock assessments of swordfish and will return to Honolulu on March 5. The Townsend Cromwell is operated and managed by officers of the NOAA Corps, NOAA's commissioned service, who command NOAA's coastal and ocean-going fleet of ships, pilot NOAA aircraft, and serve ashore in a variety of scientific and management positions within the five NOAA line components. The vessel's crew members are also part of the Office of NOAA Corps Operations.