Courtesy Photo | Pictured here are Nick Clemente, a charter captain, and his clients aboard his boat...... read more read more
Subscribe
On a mariner’s most difficult day, during his darkest hour, he will call for help. Assistance will come, though sometimes it will be from an unexpected source – a good Samaritan.
In the maritime world, a good Samaritan is someone who selflessly helps another person or crew who are in danger on the water. The term originated from one of the parables of the Bible where a Samaritan passerby came to the rescue of a Jewish man who had been robbed and beaten. It was particularly notable in the story because Samaritans and Jews were known enemies. The moral of the parable is to love your neighbor and to help those in need.
Helping those in need is just what good Samaritans have done since the beginning of maritime history. The sea was often associated with chance or fate, and adequate navigational equipment was unavailable. Seafarers were not always expected to return from their voyages. Before any formal organizations were established, mariners relied on each other to lend a helping hand when things took a turn for the worse. Many maritime traditions have survived over the years, but looking out for one another on the water is one of the most important.
“Mariners serve as an extension of our eyes and ears on the water,” said Lt. j.g. Ryan Clark, a command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region. “They quickly report signs of distress and assist other mariners who are in trouble when time is of the essence.”
During a Sept. 16 case in Ocean City, Maryland, a mariner aboard a johnboat was fishing near Ocean City’s south jetty when his boat suddenly capsized, knocking him into the water without a life jacket on.
The day began as any other day out on the water. The weather was mild, temperatures were cool and the clouds were overcast, blanketing the sun. The waves appeared to be small, but the water was choppy and the current ripping, which is typical for the area near Ocean City’s inlet.
“My dad and I were traveling through the inlet that morning and we saw the fisherman very close to the rocks of the jetty with the waves breaking behind him,” said Bill Foster, a local fisherman. “About 45 minutes later, we heard over the marine radio that a boat had capsized and knew it had to have been him.”
In an area where rip currents are so strong that they are easily visible to the eye, the fisherman was in danger. The water in Ocean City’s inlet is known to be unpredictable, even on perfect days.
Rescue personnel were immediately dispatched from Coast Guard Station Ocean City, Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Ocean City Fire Department to assist, but rescue didn’t come from any of those who quickly started to his position, it was a local charter captain who was closer and responded to the call.
“I was headed out on a charter,” said Nick Clemente. “We were going out to see how rough it was. I was getting ready to turn around and head into the bay when I saw the boat capsize.
“A smaller boat came up and tried to help, but the current was too strong,” said Clemente. “The man in the water was calm and holding onto a cushion, but was clearly fighting the current. I threw him a life ring with a line attached to it and I pulled him in.
“I’m thankful I was in the right place at the right time to make a difference in a bad situation,” said Clemente.
During an Aug. 18 case approximately 13 miles southeast of Ocean City, the recreational boat Hard Decision put out a distress call over the marine radio the operator had on board. The boat’s operator frantically stated he thought the boat had caught fire due to an electrical issue, and that he and six other people needed help fast.
Acting quickly, watchstanders at Sector Maryland-National Capital Region issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched rescue personnel from Station Ocean City and Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, to search for the boaters off Maryland’s eastern shore.
Good Samaritans who were in the area heard the distress calls and took it upon themselves to provide assistance. When the good Samaritans arrived on scene, they found the Hard Decision completely engulfed in flames and seven people in the water, panicked and calling for help.
The good Samaritans plucked the seven mariners out of the water. When rescue crews arrived, they were transferred to the Coast Guard boat to be examined for injuries.
Good Samaritans play a significant and much-needed role in the maritime world. When first responders are far away, sometimes by hundreds of miles, a good Samaritan coming to the rescue could mean the difference between life or death for another mariner.
“The Coast Guard simply does not have the resources or personnel to effectively respond to every distress case alone,” said Clark. “It is because of good Samaritans on the water, willing and able to assist, that allows the Coast Guard to successfully carry out the mission of search and rescue.”
In Sector Maryland-NCR’s area of responsibility alone, the Coast Guard responds to cases in the Chesapeake Bay, off Maryland’s eastern shore, Maryland’s rivers and tributaries, and the Potomac River running through Washington, D.C. Getting personnel and assets out to these areas can be a challenge when responding to multiple cases, especially during busier summer months.
Mariners can assist the Coast Guard by keeping a sharp lookout on the water, reporting any signs of distress, and notifying officials of any suspicious activity on the water.
“You don’t have to wear a uniform to help,” said Clark. “It’s important for the boating community and the Coast Guard to work together to ensure the safety of mariners. We want people to enjoy their time on the water, but to do so safely.”
| Date Taken: | 09.27.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2017 15:41 |
| Story ID: | 249828 |
| Location: | BALTIMORE, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 144 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT