Want this question answered?
When vessel and crew are in immediate danger
when the vessel or crew are in immediate danger
when a vessel is aground is when the vessel or the crew are in inmediate danger.
If a vessel is aground on another boat, it must have had a collision with the boat it is aground on. The coastguard will therefore be investigating the scene with a view to prosecuting one or other of the vessels captains.
Documentation with the U.S. Coast Guard
The Coast Guard will respond if there is eminent danger to persons or the vessel. If there is eminent danger they will take the persons off the vessel if possible or have them airlifted. They will not attempt to pull the vessel off unless it is clear that it will float free. This is because they may further damage the vessel or put their own vessel and themselves in danger. If the vessel is hard aground or up on the rocks they will most likely tell you to wait for the next high tide, and call a towing company or salvage company. This may cost you a lot unless you have one of the subscription towing services.
An Coast Guard Auxiliary facility under orders is obligated to tow a disabled vessel within the designated area of its operations. The primary purpose of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is to assist and support the Coast Guard in carrying out its missions, which includes search and rescue operations. As such, if a disabled vessel is within their area of responsibility, they are obligated to provide assistance, which may include towing the vessel to safety.
Coast Watch - 2010 Seized Vessel 2-9 was released on: USA: December 2010
The class of vessel must be 16 ft or longer to be US Coast Guard approved.
Must be coast guard approved
First of all, ALWAYS wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD)This is highly dependent on how the vessel is aground. If you are aground on the rocks or on the sand and there is a danger due to high waves, a hull breach, flooding or injury, the US Coast Guard is going to do everything humanly possible to assist those persons in distress. There is a point though, where if there is a high probability that it will jeopardize the lives of the boat crews or helicopter crew, they may have to wait till the situation stabilizes. They will exhaust every possible option first.If you are aground and in no danger, they may broadcast marine assistance request for other boaters, commercial tow or wait for you to re-float, depending on the location, assets available and severity of the grounding. The US Coast Guard is not required to salvage your vessel, their responsibility is to the persons in distress. You can always contact the US Coast Guard on channel 16 (International Hailing and Distress). The first four questions you will be asked. 1. Position (lat and long or geographical), 2.) Nature of distress (aground, sinking, fire, manoverboard..) 3.) Description of your vessel 4.) And is everyone wearing a life jacket (pfd). Please refer to the link provided in the related link section.The coast guard is required to assist when a person is in distress. They are not required to salvage your boat.
First of all, ALWAYS wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD)This is highly dependent on how the vessel is aground. If you are aground on the rocks or on the sand and there is a danger due to high waves, a hull breach, flooding or injury, the US Coast Guard is going to do everything humanly possible to assist those persons in distress. There is a point though, where if there is a high probability that it will jeopardize the lives of the boat crews or helicopter crew, they may have to wait till the situation stabilizes. They will exhaust every possible option first.If you are aground and in no danger, they may broadcast marine assistance request for other boaters, commercial tow or wait for you to re-float, depending on the location, assets available and severity of the grounding. The US Coast Guard is not required to salvage your vessel, their responsibility is to the persons in distress. You can always contact the US Coast Guard on channel 16 (International Hailing and Distress). The first four questions you will be asked. 1. Position (lat and long or geographical), 2.) Nature of distress (aground, sinking, fire, manoverboard..) 3.) Description of your vessel 4.) And is everyone wearing a life jacket (pfd). Please refer to the link provided in the related link section.The coast guard is required to assist when a person is in distress. They are not required to salvage your boat.