While Most Of Us Were Prepping Turkey, The Coast Guard Was Rescuing Those In Need

The Coast Guard rescued three adults and two dogs Wednesday afternoon from a boat that was stranded near Concord.

The vessel owner contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders at approximately 10:45 a.m. stating they had run aground and were stranded near Seal Islands.

Watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to the scene to assist. At approximately 11:45 a.m., the Dolphin crew located the vessel with the three stranded people.

The Dolphin aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer, who helped hoist the three people and two dogs into the helicopter and the aircrew then transported them to Buchanan Field Airport with no reported medical concerns.

The 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 flights hours.

FMI: www.uscg.mil