The U.S. Coast Guard reports it suspended its search at 5:50 p.m. yesterday for a missing crewman on the Bering Sea trawler Alaska Victory.
The Coast Guard has not identified the man, other than saying he is Japanese and 55 years old, not 50 as initially reported.
I don't want to sound cold and heartless, but given the man went overboard without a survival suit or floatation, and that the ship could not find him, why should the Coast Guard bother searching for him? They flew a search grid that likely spanned thousands of miles, burning expensive fuel in expensive to maintain aircraft from 250 miles away. There was zero chance the man was alive 1-hour after he went over, and even less 18 hours later when the Coast Guard finished the search. Seems wasteful and dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI mean God bless the poor man who went over, and may his family find peace, but there must be some limits, right?
Discuss.
Being cold and heartless myself I agree. Seems as if the Helicopter could have been better used left on the tarmac. The real cost of flying a helicopter to find a dead dude is in it's unavailability to assist in other possible situations. If the Helo is 250 miles from base searching for a dead man that's one less helicopter that's available should another situation arise. Same goes for training runs. Even my cold heart understands that these men needs their training to do their job but to treat these missions as a means for "just more training" is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI personally could care less whether joe coastie gets his first hoist before leaving alaska or whether it was good training for the crew. If there isn't a fueled Helo on the Tarmac ready to assist in real disasters these people aren't doing their job. Readiness and Response time are key in saving lives at sea and if the helo isn't fueled and on the tarmac they're missing both.
You guys are assholes.
ReplyDeleteCold and Heartless, but not an asshole.
ReplyDeleteIm sure you would think differently if it was your brother, father, son, cousin, or whatever that fell over...
ReplyDeleteor if they were out training or fueling when you needed help.
ReplyDeleteAnd why waste the money on Helo time, after another Act of God, eleminating another Corrupt Bastard.
ReplyDeleteJust join the stupid club, and you could have a little trouble flying around with your CBC Club.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/story/2011/05/24/ap-stevens-plane-crash-ntsb.html
I have worked on the victory and would like a name of the man lost to the sea! Further more I appreciate the coast guards attempts! Let us not forget what they and the warrior did for the men of the ranger about 4 years ago!
ReplyDelete