Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam and rescue crews from Rota recovered three stranded boaters a mile offshore near the village of Songsong Feb. 3.
The 20-foot vessel was operating in 10-foot seas when its engine failed around noon. Due to surf conditions, a rescue vessel from Rota was unable to immediately rescue the stranded boaters. A Navy MH-60S helicopter from HSC-25 was launched from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and reached the vessel within 30 minutes of receiving the call to act as on scene commander. Once in the vicinity, the helicopter crew determined the best course of action was to monitor the boaters until a rescue vessel could arrive.
After about an hour and a half, the seas calmed down enough for a Rota rescue vessel to tow the stranded vessel in. The HSC-25 crew credited good communication between HSC-25, Coast Guard Sector Guam and the rescue units from Rota for the recovery.
The incident was the fourth search and rescue executed by HSC-25 personnel this year.
HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron. As a part of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific, it provides an armed helicopter capability for U.S. 7th Fleet in support of logistics, search and rescue and humanitarian assistance missions.
HSC-25 is also the only squadron that maintains a 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation alert posture, directly supporting the U.S. Coast Guard and Joint Region Marianas.
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Image: US Navy