Ham radio plays major role in
sea rescue drama
Amateur Radio operators in the US, French Polynesia and Australia played
a vital role in the successful late-June rescue of a couple aboard a privately
owned sailboat in the Pacific Ocean.
The drama began June 25 after John Caine, VK4CEJ, in Queensland, Australia,
checked into the Pacific Seafarers Net on 14.313 MHz with emergency traffic
from the 47-foot sailing ketch Fingolfin, some 680 nautical miles north
of Nuka Hiva in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia.
A young Australian couple, John and Kelly Hallows, were on their way
from Mexico to the Marquesas. With the trip taking longer than anticipated,
however, John Hallows had run out of a required medication and was experiencing
debilitating pain.
Through Maritime Mobile
Service Net (MMSN) member Bob Botik, K5SIV, in Austin, Texas, the
US Coast Guard in Honolulu and a shipping firm, arrangements were made
for a Greek container vessel to rendezvous with the Fingolfin and transfer
the needed medication.
Unfortunately, the larger vessel struck and badly damaged the ketch during
the transfer. To add insult to injury, the medication transferred turned
out to be the wrong one. Eventually several other radio amateurs became
part of the unfolding drama, but Botik found himself as a key player.
The Coast Guard was in touch with the French Navy to effect a rescue,
but the situation aboard the Fingolfin continued to deteriorate. John
Hallows was no longer able to assist in piloting the damaged vessel, and
his wife, injured during the collision with the container vessel, was
in pain and exhausted. Both also were suffering symptoms of dehydration.
An hourly radio schedule with the Fingolfin was maintained, with stations
staying on frequency after the MMSN shut down.
The next day, Botik patched Dr Jim Hirschman, K4TCV, in Miami to the
Fingolfin so Hirschman could attempt a medical assessment. Due to the
couple's condition, evacuation became imperative. A French Navy patrol
vessel came on 14.300 MHz to advise it was on its way to the Fingolfin's
last-known position. Via VK4CEJ and K5SIV, a series of questions and answers
to and from the Fingolfin were relayed to the patrol boat.
The Fingolfin's situation continued to worsen. The vessel was taking
on water and eventually lost both masts and its only lifeboat. Amateurs
on frequency advised the Fingolfin to stay on frequency no matter what.
A few hours later, the increasingly stressed, demoralized and desperate
couple made contact with Gary Walls, KE6SD/mm, aboard the S/V Amidon Light
in Suwarrow Atoll and with Bill Healy, N6JRD/mm, in the Pacific. The two
amateurs attempted to lift their spirits to get them through the crisis.
The French patrol boat finally reached the Fingolfin on June 27 and took
the couple aboard, but the sailboat had to be scuttled. The couple was
hospitalized and later released.
Botik received a letter of appreciation in July from Rear Adm C. D. Wurster
of the US Coast Guard in Honolulu.
"Your efforts and skills in radio communications directly resulted
in the safe rescue of two personnel," Wurster said. He also applauded
Botik's "unselfish devotion and commitment to aiding others in distress."
A more detailed account of the Fingolfin rescue is available on the MMSN
Web site
MMSN Assistant Net Manager Tom Job, VE3II
Sorce: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The
American Radio Relay League
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