Coast Guard Medevacs Woman From Cruise Ship 25 Miles Off Galveston, Texas

The Coast Guard medevaced a woman from a cruise ship Monday 25 miles offshore Galveston, Texas.

Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a medevac request at 5 p.m. from the crew of the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Adventure of the Seas stating a 51-year-old passenger was experiencing lower abdominal pain and reportedly suffering from possible appendicitis. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac.

A Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew diverted to conduct the medevac.

The helicopter crew landed on the cruise ship, took the ailing passenger aboard and transported her to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. The patient was reportedly in stable condition.

The H-65 Dolphin has been in the Coast Guard’s inventory since 1984. The Coast Guard is upgrading the helicopters with state-of-the-market enhancements that will extend mission capabilities and improve their reliability and maintainability. This conversion and sustainment project adds digital technology, including GPS and inertial navigation, flight control, weather radar and cockpit instruments. Since 2007, the entire fleet has been equipped with new engines that add 40% more power and airborne use of force capabilities, redesignating the aircraft MH-65s. Additionally, the Coast Guard is executing a Service Life Extension Project (SLEP) to extend the service life the H-65 Dolphin by 10,000 flight hours.

FMI: www.uscg.mil