US and Philippines condemn the Chinese coast guard's water cannon blasts on fisheries vessels
The Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, have separately condemned a high-seas assault by the Chinese coast guard and suspected militia ships that repeatedly blasted water cannons to block three Philippine fisheries vessels from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.
US, Japan and Australia plan joint navy drills in disputed South China Sea, Philippine officials say
Two Philippine security officials said that the United States, Japan and Australia are planning a joint navy drill this week in the South China Sea off the western Philippines after a recent show of Chinese aggression in the disputed waters.
A guide to Michiganโs boating laws: What you need to know
With four of the five great lakes surrounding us, 10,000 inland lakes and ponds, and a 35,000 mile web of rivers, streams, and wetlands, it is important to know the rules of the water road. Here is what we think you need to know if youโre heading out on the boat anytime soon.
Orion Township native at center of search for missing woman in Virgin Islands
DETROIT โ A Michigan man is at the center of the search for a British woman who has gone missing the U.S. Virgin Island. Sarm Heslop went missing more than two weeks ago, but the investigation is at a standstill. Ryan Bane -- from Orion Township -- has reportedly refused to let investigators continue to search his boat after reporting his girlfriend missing while the two were sailing between islands. The FBI has joined the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) in the search. FindSarm.comAn attorney for Bane released a statement that said Bane allowed investigators on his boat and handed over Heslopโs personal items.
Man using submarine to smuggle drugs across Detroit River sentenced
DETROIT โ Glen Richard Mousseau was sentenced Wednesday to 71 months imprisonment after having plead guilty to using a submarine business to smuggle drugs between the United States and Canada. Original Story: Man using submarine to smuggle drugs across Detroit River found tied to floating bags of marijuanaMousseau, 49, is from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. After trying to stop the vessel, agents said they saw two large bundles being thrown into the water. While approaching the bundles, agents said they saw an unconscious man in the water. More Information: Man using submarine to smuggle drugs across Detroit River found tied to floating bags of marijuana
Army vet charged after climbing Mackinac Bridge for photos
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)ST. IGNACE, Mich. โ An Army veteran already jailed in Ohio after the roof of a Cincinnati skyscraper was accessed has been accused of scaling the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan to take photos. Issac Wright, 25, of Cincinnati, was arraigned Thursday via video in Cheboygan District Court on a charge of felony trespass upon a key transportation facility. Photos taken on the bridgeโs south tower were posted in November on social media. The bridge connects Michiganโs Upper and Lower peninsulas. Chartier said she only is representing Wright in the Michigan bridge case.
Coast Guard searches for man reportedly seen falling through ice near Belle Isle
DETROIT โ The U.S. Coast Guard said it is searching for a man who was reportedly seen falling through the ice Wednesday evening near Belle Isle. Emergency personnel responds to a report of a man fallen through the ice at Belle Isle on Feb. 17, 2021. The man was seen falling through the ice. The Coast Guard was conducting a search of the Detroit River on Wednesday night. More: Detroit River news
Captain pleads not guilty to manslaughter in boat fire
The captain of a scuba diving boat that burned and sank off the California coast, killing 34 people below deck, has pleaded not guilty to federal manslaughter charges. Jerry Boylan surrendered Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, and was arraigned in Los Angeles federal court on 34 counts of seaman's manslaughter. (Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP, File)LOS ANGELES โ The captain of a scuba diving boat that burned and sank off the California coast, killing 34 people, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to manslaughter charges. Jerry Boylan was arraigned in federal court in Los Angeles on 34 counts of seamanโs manslaughter. Truth Aquatics has sued in federal court under a provision in maritime law to avoid payouts to the families of the victims.
Bitter cold causes more flooding concerns along St. Clair River
EAST CHINA, Mich. โ A State of Emergency was declared in Saint Clair County due to the flooding along its titular river -- and ongoing cold weather is expected to bring more ice jams, causing more flooding concerns for residents. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for southeastern Saint Clair County until 10 a.m. Tuesday. The jam forced the St. Clair River to overflow, causing water to surround the homes nearby. READ: Ice jams cause significant flooding along St. Clair RiverโCame right over the top. More information on the survey can be found on the Be Ready St. Clair County website here or its official Facebook page here.
State of Emergency declared in St. Clair County due to flood damage
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. โ A State of Emergency was declared in Saint Clair County due to the flooding along its titular river. Ice jams have caused the Saint Clair River to flood significantly. The State of Emergency was declared due to widespread damages to property caused by the flooding. Citizens who are impacted by flooding to their properties are encouraged to utilize the online self-reporting survey to catalogue and report damage. More information on the survey can be found on the Be Ready St. Clair County website here or its official Facebook page here.
Coast Guard ice breakers deployed to St. Clair River to relieve flooding
EAST CHINA TOWNSHIP, Mich. โ Three Coast Guard ice breakers from the United States and Canada have been working on the St. Clair River trying to break up ice dams. Homes along Pointe Drive in East China Township are affected. Those homes do not have basements but crawl spaces and if the water doesnโt recede soon, will be in peopleโs living rooms. READ: Ice jams cause significant flooding along St. Clair RiverSt. Clair County Emergency Director Justin Westmiller said the cause is a trifecta -- strong north winds, no ice bridge has formed in Lake Huron and all that ice has dumped into the river. โWe got on the phone and by 3 p.m., we had federal assets from the U.S. and Canada speeding to the St. Clair River to break up the ice.โA fourth Coast Guard ice breaker will arrive Thursday morning.
Michigan officials warn people to be aware, use caution on ice
CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 21: A man walks on ice along the shore of Lake Michigan as storm clouds, which dumped several inches of lake-effect snow on the city, heads east over the Lake on January 21, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)LANSING, Mich. โ Authorities in Michigan are warning people to be extremely cautious on frozen bodies of water after six snowmobiles have fallen through ice in less than two weeks. State Conservation officers in southeastern Michigan are seeing snowmobilers riding into open water and falling through ice, said Sgt. In Michiganโs Upper Peninsula, officers responded Jan. 22 to reports of a drowning after strong winds created a pressure crack in ice over Lake Michigan. โBe aware of the ice conditions before you go out,โ Becker said.
Freighter aground on Detroit River now freed
DETROIT โ A freighter that ran aground on the Detroit River has been freed Thursday. The U.S. Coast Guard tweeted that the the Harvest Spirit has been refloated and will undergo further inspection. The 500-foot freighter Harvest Spirit, aground in the Detroit River since Wednesday morning, was successfully refloated this afternoon and is safely anchored in U.S. waters while awaiting a thorough inspection. News release: https://t.co/uso2FQQpnp pic.twitter.com/L3X47zJDww โ USCG Great Lakes (@USCGGreatLakes) December 4, 2020Shipping was routed to Detroit Riverโs Amherstburg Channel, east of Bois Blanc Island. The Detroit River is one of the busiest rivers for commercial shipping on the planet.
California boat owners faulted for fire that killed 34
The NTSB also faulted the Coast Guard for not enforcing that requirement and recommended it develop a program to ensure boats with overnight passengers actually have the watchman. Last yearโs tragedy during a Labor Day weekend scuba diving excursion near Santa Cruz Island off Santa Barbara prompted criminal and safety investigations. Before the disaster, Boylan and Truth Aquatics enjoyed a good reputation with customers and the Santa Barbara boating community. Attorneys for Boylan and Truth Aquatics did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The families of 32 victims have filed claims against the boat owners, Glen and Dana Fritzler, and Truth Aquatics.
Marine general has COVID after Pentagon meeting
Ray attended the Joint Chiefs meeting Friday in the so-called Tank โ the classified meeting room in the Pentagon. Officials said that is where most of the military leaders were exposed to him, but he also had other meetings with officials. The Marine Corps remains operationally ready to answer the Nationโs call.โThe news of the positive tests has stunned officials at the Pentagon. Overall, more than 47,000 service members have tested positive for the virus, as of Monday; 625 have been hospitalized and eight have died. According to officials, the military leaders were negative at that time, and they will continue to be tested in the coming days.
Military leaders quarantined after official tests positive
The nation's top military leaders were under self-quarantine Tuesday, Oct. 6, after a senior Coast Guard official tested positive for the coronavirus, the Pentagon said. (Michael Reynolds/Pool via AP, File)WASHINGTON โ The nation's top military leaders were under self-quarantine Tuesday after a senior Coast Guard official tested positive for the coronavirus, the Pentagon said. Officials said that is where most of the military leaders were exposed to him, but he also had other meetings with officials. According to officials, the military leaders were negative at that time, and they will continue to be tested in the coming days. Some stayed home after having been exposed to the virus and other military leaders have self-quarantined for a short time after returning from travel.
Info sought about plane that flew under Mackinac Bridge: See video
ST. IGNACE, Mich. Authorities are seeking information about a plane that flew under the Mackinac Bridge in late June. This was extremely reckless behavior on the part of the pilot, and it imperiled the safety of everyone on the bridge that day, said Det. We hope that someone can come forward with information to help us make sure it doesnt happen again, Demers said. A Coast Guard crew recorded the June 28 incident on video. The bridge connects Michigans two peninsulas over the Straits of Mackinac.
US, Canadian authorities search Detroit River for missing people after boat capsizes
GROSSE ILE, Mich. Emergency personnel are searching the Detroit River, just south of Stony Island, after a boat capsized Sunday night. According to authorities, the incident happened at about 7:30 p.m. Police said a boater from Ontario witnessed the incident and was able to province assistance to most of the passengers, but two adults have gone missing. Police said at least nine people were onboard, consisting of adults and children. The search included Grosse Ile Police and Fire crews, the Wayne County Marine Division, Canadian Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard and the Downriver Dive Team. The status of the victims and their names have not been released by authorities.
Michigan officials: Boat at bottom of Grand Traverse bay must be removed
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. A sunken boat must be removed from the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay in northern Michigan, according to state officials. Federal and state authorities said Thursday they are working to arrange the salvage operation for the 33-foot-long vessel that sank last month, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy spokesman Nick Assendelft said officials dont want that left in the water.The boat took on water June 19 and sank. The boats owner, Todd Elsenheimer, said he has insurance on the lake cruiser and his plan all along has been to remove it from the bay. The sunken boat continues to be monitored and it does not appear any of the 70 gallons of fuel believed to be on board has leaked, according to the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard rescues 5 people, dog from sinking boat in Lake Huron
BAY CITY, Mich. โ Five people and a dog have been rescued from a sinking boat in Saginaw Bay. The 50-foot vessel was halfway submerged and one person wearing a life jacket was in the water when a Coast Guard rescue boat arrived after 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard said Thursday in a release. A line was tossed to the person who was pulled aboard the Coast Guard Station Saginaw River rescue boat. The other four people and the dog were helped aboard the rescue boat from the sinking vessel. Salvage crews were working Thursday on a plan to remove the sinking boat from Saginaw Bay, according to the Coast Guard.
US Coast Guard rescues 10 people from water in Grand Traverse Bay
GRAND TRAVERSE BAY, Mich. The US Coast Guard rescued 10 people from the water in Grand Traverse Bay on Friday. Officials say the people were rescued after their boat starting sinking into the water. At around 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sector Sault Sainte Marie Command Center received a distress radio call from a 30-foot vessel that was taking on water. The crew got on scene within 20 minutes and deployed their rescue swimmer to transfer everyone to a Good Samaritan vessel that had arrived to assist. In the video a a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer can be seen assisting 10 people from a sinking 30-foot vessel to a Good Samaritans vessel in Grand Traverse Bay on Friday.
Man using submarine to smuggle drugs across Detroit River found tied to floating bags of marijuana
A man who admitted to using his submarine business to smuggle drugs between the United States and Canada escaped authorities by fleeing a hotel in the middle of the night and was found in the Detroit River attached to floating bags of marijuana, officials said.
Michigan man plans to steal helicopter for hospital attack to free COVID-19 patients, police say
A Michigan man devised a plan to steal a helicopter from the Coast Guard in order to attack a police station and shooting up a hospital to disrupt the power and free the coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, authorities said.
Reward offered for information after lasers pointed at helicopters from Selfridge in Macomb County
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. โ A reward for information is offered after lasers were pointed at two Selfridge-based helicopters while they were flying in St. Clair County and Macomb County. The crews of both helicopters safely landed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Coast Guard Investigative Serviceโs CGIS TIPS app, available free on Appleโs app store and Google Play. Officials are also seeking information about a laser that was pointed at a Coast Guard helicopter in Chesterfield Township on March 17. Officials noted that if a Coast Guard helicopter is on a rescue mission and a member of the aircrew is compromised by lasers, the mission must be aborted.
Womanโs body found in Detroit River after her dog seen running along riverwalk
DETROIT โ Authorities found a womanโs body in the Detroit River after her dog was seen running up and down the riverwalk. Officials believe the woman went into the water between 5:22 a.m. and 7:12 a.m. Thursday. Her clothes and description match a person seen on the Coast Guardโs security camera, according to officials. The womanโs dog was found running along the riverwalk near the Coast Guard station, authorities said. Detroit police are handling the investigation.
Coast Guard captures 'narco sub' carrying $165M in cocaine
(CNN) - The Coast Guard cutter Valiant seized a 'narco sub' carrying 12,000 pounds of cocaine worth over $165 million, according to a news release. Members of the Valiant's crew intercepted the boat with the assistance of Colombian naval assets, took control of it and apprehended four smugglers. The Coast Guard offloaded over 1,000 pounds of cocaine but had to leave the rest due to the questionable stability of the vessel. "There are no words to describe the feeling the Valiant crew is experiencing right now," said Cmdr. Within the last week, the Southeast Coast Guard has reported seizing over 13,000 pounds of cocaine from smugglers.
Last missing victim from California dive boat fire has been located
The 75-foot commercial diving boat, called the Conception, caught fire Labor Day off the coast of Santa Cruz Island in Southern California. (CNN) - The last missing victim of the Conception dive boat fire in California was located Wednesday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said. "The Conception Incident Unified Command is relieved to report that search and recovery efforts today were successful in locating the last missing victim," a tweet from the sheriff's office said. The 75-foot dive boat sank off the Southern California coast on Labor Day following a fire that claimed the lives of 34 people on board. Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire aboard the dive boat, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said this week, noting the boat has not even been brought to the surface.
Hundreds of Bahamians told to get off ferry headed to US
NASSAU, Bahamas - Hurricane Dorian may have long since left the Bahamas, but the islands have only begun to grapple with the grim aftermath. Hundreds are still missing, nearly 70,000 have been left homeless by the disaster and hundreds more are desperately looking for a way out. Entin told CNN he was on a Balearia ferry from Freeport to Fort Lauderdale when the announcement was made Sunday. One woman told Entin that as many as 130 people left the ferry after the announcement. The public should prepare for "unimaginable information about the death toll and the human suffering," Health Minister Duane Sands told Guardian Radio 96.9 FM.
US flag still flying at former Coast Guard station after Dorian
The American flag flying on a former Coast Guard light station off the coast of North Carolina has made it through Hurricane Dorian. (CNN) - The American flag flying on a former Coast Guard light station off the coast of North Carolina has made it through Hurricane Dorian. Live video from the Frying Pan Tower shows that the flag is torn but is still fluttering proudly. The tower is 34 miles off the coast of North Carolina and Hurricane Dorian passed over the area before making landfall on Friday at Cape Hatteras. At one point, about 20 Coast Guard cadets lived on the tower, but it was automated in 1979 and GPS navigation has since made it obsolete.
Light station sits in Hurricane Dorian's path, 34 miles off N.C. coast
A former Coast Guard light station off the coast of North Carolina is offering a unique view of Hurricane Dorian's power as the storm moves slowly northeast. SOUTHPORT, N.C. - A former Coast Guard light station off the coast of North Carolina is offering a unique view of Hurricane Dorian's power as the storm moves slowly northeast. The Frying Pan Tower, 34 miles offshore in the Atlantic, is right in the storm's path. Track Hurricane DorianA camera on the tower's helipad, some 85 feet above the ocean, is sending live video as the storm approaches. For years, about 20 Coast Guard cadets lived on the station full time.
Captain of Conception's sister ship stands up for colleagues
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The captain of the sister ship to the one that caught fire off the coast of Santa Barbara, killing at least 25, is sticking up for its crew. Ian Higgins is the captain of the Vision, a sister ship nearly identical to the Conception, which caught fire near Santa Cruz island Monday morning. "That vessel is inspected by the Coast Guard annually and also every five years for a more complete inspection," said Higgins, who works for Truth Aquatics. RELATED: 20 bodies recovered from boat fire off coast of Southern California, officials sayRecords show the Conception had no issues after a Coast Guard inspection in February. He said passengers are given safety briefings the morning after they get on the ship.
Report: 4 bodies found near dive boat that caught fire
(CNN) - The U.S. Coast Guard said four bodies have been recovered near a dive boat that caught fire off the California coast, The Associated Press reported Monday. Rescuers were able to save the five crew members, who were awake in the main cabin and jumped off of the boat, Coast Guard Capt. The passengers were below deck in the berthing area that's primarily used for sleeping, the Coast Guard's Aaron Bemis told CNN. Good Samaritans rescued the crew members and took them aboard, the Coast Guard said. The boat is about 20 miles off the mainland coast, near Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands National Park.
Search ramps up for firefighters missing off Florida coast
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A Florida fire official says his department is ramping up its search for two firefighters who've been missing since going boating in the Atlantic Ocean last week. The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies have been searching a wide area of ocean between Cape Canaveral and Jacksonville. The Coast Guard said when they arrived to the search area, the debris found was not related to the boaters. Following the discovery of McCluney's tackle bag by a Good Samaritan, the Coast Guard said it will be focusing on the area where that bag was found. Anyone with information is asked to contact the United States Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Command Center at 904-714-7558.
Six people rescued by Coast Guard off Diamond Head in Hawaii
The Coast Guard, Honolulu Fire Department, and Ocean Safety Lifeguard Services rescued six paddlers aboard a sinking canoe off Diamond Head. HONOLULU, Hawaii - The Coast Guard, Honolulu Fire Department, and Ocean Safety Lifeguard Services rescued six paddlers aboard a sinking canoe off Diamond Head. At 11:40 a.m., Sector Honolulu watchstanders received a call from the Honolulu Fire Department stating canoe paddlers reported their vessel taking on water one mile off Black Point near Diamond Head. Sector Honolulu watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast Notice to Mariners to keep a sharp lookout for signs of distress and launched the RB-M crew to respond. Honolulu Fire Department and Ocean Safety deployed crews aboard a fireboat, Hawaii Fire Department Air 1 helicopter, and a Jetski to assist.
2 firefighters disappear on Florida fishing trip
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(CNN) - Authorities say they have searched almost 5,000 square miles of ocean for two firefighters who disappeared after setting out from Port Canaveral, Florida, on a fishing trip. Their destination was 8A Reef, an offshore fishing spot, the Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard, along with multiple local and county agencies, started searching by boat and air on Friday night. "I hoped that by daylight it would bring us something," McCluney's wife, Stephanie, told CNN affiliate WFTV on Saturday. As the search continues, the Coast Guard is asking for anyone with information to call 904-714-7558.
Coast Guard nabs $350 million in cocaine
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(CNN) - The Coast Guard seized 26,000 pounds of cocaine worth $350 million in several operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean, including one involving a high-speed chase at sea with suspected drug smugglers. In one of the hauls, footage released by the Coast Guard showed suspected drug smugglers tossing out containers of cocaine overboard as their boat sped through the water on July 18. "The crewmembers apprehended the suspected smugglers and seized approximately 2,300 pounds of cocaine from the vessel," the Coast Guard said in a statement Friday. The total amount of contraband came from six suspected drug smuggling vessel operations along with the discovery of floating cocaine bales between late June and mid-July, the Coast Guard said. It unloaded all the seized cocaine Friday.
Woman, dogs rescued after night below Lake Michigan bluff
A Coast Guard helicopter was used to rescue a woman and a dog from the bottom of a sandy bluff near Lake Michigan in northern Michigan. LAKE MICHIGAN (WNEM) - A Coast Guard helicopter was used to rescue a woman and a dog from the bottom of a sandy bluff near Lake Michigan in northern Michigan. The Coast Guard says the woman, her husband and three dogs spent Thursday night at the bottom of the bluff, near Ludington, after they couldn't climb up the loose soil and sand. The Coast Guard sent two helicopters, one from Muskegon and another from Traverse City. One helicopter was used to airlift the woman and a dog around 12:45 p.m.A local team from the fire department rescued the other two dogs.
Boater who went overboard in Lake Saint Clair found alive
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. - Officials have found a boater who fell off a boat in Lake Saint Clair in Macomb County. The 43-year-old man went overboard after 8 p.m. Monday just 2.5 miles out of the Clinton River. He was found shortly afterwards. The Coast Guard and Macomb County Sheriff's dive team were participating in the search. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.