At 5:15 PM, the Alaskan Way background noise to which we have become accustomed was interrupted by the whap-whap-whap of helicopter blades out over Elliott Bay. The VHF radio (USCG Channel 23) told us that the US Coast Guard was conducting a rescue operations drill for the benefit of an unidentified audience, which they referred to as the "ground party." We believe the ground party was located at Pier 66, our nearby cruise ship terminal.
First, a Sikorsky "Jayhawk-class" helicopter lowered a crew member to the USCG "Victory," a 52-foot steel-hulled, self-righting lifeboat that has been in service since 1956.
According to the Coast Guard, the "Victory" and similar lifeboats were designed for offshore rescue under the worst sea conditions. They are self-righting and self-bailing and can carry up to 40 survivors. http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/. The "Victory" is stationed at Yaquina Bay, Oregon.
Although the drill captured most of our attention, normal activity on Elliott Bay continued. Note the Alaska Marine Lines barge in the background, outbound for Central Alaska . . .
. . . as well as the outbound Bremerton ferry and an inbound bulk carrier accompanied by a Crowley tug.
After the rescue drill, the participating vessels (including the "Victory" and a 45' USCG response boat-medium) assembled at the south end of Elliott Bay and then paraded northward, past Pier 66.
 |
| USCG Victory |
 |
| USCGC "Adelie," an 87' patrol boat |
 |
| USCG 45' response boat (medium) |
 |
| USCG 25' Defender-class patrol boat |
 |
| USCG H-65 "Dolphin," stationed at Port Angeles, WA |
 |
| Dolphin and Jayhawk-class helicopters, in formation |
 |
| USCG "asset parade," at conclusion of drill |
No comments:
Post a Comment