The coastguard, Navy and good Samaritan vessels combined efforts to medevac a tanker ship crew member to Bermuda on Friday.

Rescue Co-ordination Centre Bermuda notified watchstanders at the coastguard’s Fifth District command centre in Portsmouth of an ailing crew member aboard the tanker ship Antonis on Wednesday at approximately 1pm.

The coastguard co-ordinated the rendezvous of two nearby commercial vessels to deliver needed medical supplies through the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue, or “AMVER,” system.

AMVER is a computer-based, voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea.

A HC130 Hercules aircrew was launched from coastguard Air Station Elizabeth City to deliver additional medical supplies. Once on scene, the Hercules aircrew dropped the medical supplies from the cargo door of the airplane, which were recovered by the crew of the Antonis.

Despite additional medical supplies, the crewmember’s condition continued to deteriorate. After consultation with a coastguard physician, it was determined that the crew member needed to be evacuated from the vessel to receive higher level medical care.

A MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew and a HC-130 Hercules aircrew carrying a relief helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City were launched to conduct the medevac on Friday.

On Friday at approximately noon, the crew aboard the MH60 Jayhawk landed and refuelled aboard the USS Arlington, a US Navy San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock homeported in Norfolk, and then continued to Bermuda.

Upon arriving in Bermuda, the relief crew took over the MH60 Jayhawk to conduct the medevac hoist. The relief crew arrived at the Antonis, which was 150 miles off the coast of Bermuda, and hoisted the crew member aboard at approximately 4pm Friday.

The crew member was flown to Bermuda and was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services. The coastguard aircrews then returned to North Carolina after refuelling again with USS Arlington.

“I’m exceptionally proud of the coordination and efforts of the coastguard and Navy, as well as co-operation and support from the Government of Bermuda,” said Rear Admiral Laura Dickey, commander of the coastguard’s Fifth District.

“Long-range refuelling and rescues at sea require precision and co-operation. This case is a clear demonstration of the ongoing partnerships that allow us to try to help mariners in distress both near and far from shore.”