Latest news with #MarineDivision
L'Orient-Le Jour
6 days ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Body of Dearborn Lebanese who went missing in Lake Erie has been found
Two days after the tragedy that occurred on Sunday, during which Hussein Afif Hassoun, a 23-year-old Lebanese native of Kfar Hatta in southern Lebanon and resident of Dearborn, Michigan, in the United States, was reported missing after drowning in Lake Erie, his body was found Tuesday at 8:45 a.m. (local time), according to a press release from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office (Michigan). 'On Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, members of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Marine Division resumed the search in the area where the boater was last seen in the water. During the search, an individual in the area reported locating a body at approximately 8:45 a.m. Members of the Marine Division went to the scene and recovered the body,' the statement said, adding that the 'victim was brought ashore and then handed over to the Lucas County coroner for examination.' He contacted us on Tuesday early afternoon, and his uncle confirmed to L'Orient-Le Jour that the victim was still missing. There is a seven-hour time difference between Lebanon and Michigan. Hussein Afif Hassoun was with 'four other adults aboard a white Baja-type boat [designed for speed], several 100 yards east of the Sandy Creek/Sterling State Park boat channel,' according to a statement from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office issued Monday. 'When they jumped from the boat to swim, Hassoun began to struggle and sank,' the office narrated, while another statement specified that he 'was not wearing a life jacket.' After the incident was reported at 5:49 p.m. (local time), the boat was escorted to shore by a fire department rescue boat, while divers began searching for the victim's body, the statement continued. The search was suspended at 11 p.m. due to 'dangerous waves' and resumed Monday morning with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol and dive teams. 'It breaks my heart. I've noticed that many people are unaware of the currents in the lake and don't really understand how easy it is to be swept away,' a commenter said Monday in response to the Monroe sheriff's office statement. Another noted that the lake was 'incredibly rough' on Sunday, adding that 'experienced boaters, fishermen, people who grew up here, etc., drown all the time' in this lake. More than 50 drownings have occurred this year in the Great Lakes, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, cited by Detroit News. The city of Dearborn, nicknamed the 'capital of Arab America,' has hosted a significant Lebanese diaspora since the early 20th century, mostly from southern Lebanon, who particularly benefited from job opportunities offered by the Ford plant, located 10 kilometers east of Detroit.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Yahoo
Disabled Crabber Rescued After His Boat Was Swamped, Leaving Him Stranded for 9 Hours
'I'm crippled, I had a stroke,' Benji Nevers said. 'But the Lord took care of me"NEED TO KNOW A crabber, later identified as Benji Nevers, was stranded in a Louisiana marsh for about nine hours after his boat encountered motor issues He was unable to call for help as his phone was underwater The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office found the crabber and he was taken to the hospitalLouisiana authorities rescued a 57-year-old crabber with a physical condition when his boat was partially submerged in a marsh that left him stuck for about nine hours last week. A spokesperson for the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office (STPSO) said in an email to PEOPLE that the crabber ventured out in his boat on the morning of Friday, July 25. The sheriff's office also said in a news release that he didn't return home from the East Pearl River and was last heard from at 10 a.m. local time. "Around 5 p.m., a family member called to report him missing and that he had not returned as expected," the spokesperson told PEOPLE. The crabber's family told deputies their loved one was partially paralyzed on his left side due to a previous medical condition. STPSO Marine Division members Sgt. Chuck White and Deputy John Hrabley were dispatched to find him, per the sheriff's office. They followed a trail that led to a marsh based on information provided by the crabber's family about his usual launch point and route. It was there that White and Hrabley found the crabber in the water and his sunken vessel about 45 minutes into their search. They discovered that the man's cell phone was underwater and the boat's motor was inoperable. The sheriff's office added that the crabber's medical condition hampered his ability to move as he was surrounded by marshland. 'He was immediately turned over to medical personnel, evaluated, and brought safely home that night,' the sheriff's office news release said. 'This is what we do,' it added. 'And on this day, it saved a life.' The crabber was later identified as Benji Nevers, Fox affiliate WVUE reported. In an interview with the outlet, Never said he was on a fishing trip and approached the mouth of the Pearl River on Friday, July 25, when he found himself stranded. A strong wind and the boat's motor issues contributed to Nevers' dilemma. Waves then pushed the crabber into the marsh and swamped the boat, per WVUE. His cell phone was lost due to the rough waters and there was little traffic among passing boats that day, in an ordeal that lasted nine hours. 'I'm crippled, I had a stroke,' Nevers told WVUE. 'But the Lord took care of me.' Fortunately, Hrabley and White arrived in time. They recalled how desolate the area was. 'He was tucked in the marsh. I saw a little green thing and I said, 'Are you Mr. Nevers?' ' White recalled, per WVUE. '[He] said, 'Yeah,' and I said, 'We're coming to you.' ' A dehydrated and hungry Nevers said he was taken to the hospital. He expressed his gratitude to Hrabley and White for rescuing him. 'They were great people, they took care of me,' Nevers told WVUE. Nevers said that he plans to repair his boat so he can resume crabbing as well as keep his phone in a waterproof case attached to the vessel. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. PEOPLE contacted the STPSO for additional information on Thursday, July 31. Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
30-07-2025
- Miami Herald
‘Partially paralyzed' man stuck 9 hours in slowly sinking boat, LA rescuers say
A partially paralyzed man spent hours trapped in a 'terrifying' predicament when his boat began sinking in a southeast Louisiana marsh, rescuers say. The discovery was made just after sunset Friday, July 25, in a remote area along the banks of Lake Borgne. 'When a 57-year-old crabber didn't return home from the East Pearl River, his family knew something wasn't right,' the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office wrote in a July 30 Facebook post. 'They told deputies he was partially paralyzed on his left side due to a previous medical condition, and that he hadn't been heard from since 10 a.m. By 5 p.m., he was officially missing.' Multiple agencies joined in the search, starting from the man's 'usual launch point,' officials said. The search ended three hours later, in 'a marshy area near Lake Borgne.' 'What they found was nothing short of terrifying. The man's boat was partially submerged. His motor had failed. His phone had gone underwater. And he was in the water … exhausted, alone, and without any way to call for help,' the sheriff's office said. 'Stranded for nearly nine hours, unable to move freely due to his medical condition, and surrounded by marshland, he was out of options.' The man was pulled from the marsh by Sgt. Chuck White and Deputy John Hrabley with the parish's Marine Division and taken for a medical evaluation, officials said. The man's identity has not been released. He was treated 'for heat-related issues,' then taken home that same night, officials said. Temperatures rose to 90 degrees that day in the parish, AccuWeather reports. 'This is what we do. And on this day, it saved a life,' the sheriff's office said. The situation started when the man's boat malfunctioned, and then his cellphone went 'dead,' the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports. Lake Borgne is just east of New Orleans.
Straits Times
25-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
SCDF launches rescue vessel to tackle major incidents in Singapore waters
SINGAPORE - A new marine rescue vessel equipped to deal with fires and other emergencies in Singapore's waters has been commissioned, as larger ships with more passengers such as the Disney Cruise Line are expected here in the near future. It will be based at West Coast Marine Fire Station when it is operational from October. The 38m-long Blue Dolphin is a second-generation marine rescue vessel that is 3m longer than its predecessor, the Red Dolphin, and will be the primary vessel for major incidents such as fires, rescues and chemical incidents. The increased space on the boat allows for a heli-winch, where casualties can be evacuated by helicopters from the Singapore Armed Forces. This feature was not available on the Red Dolphin. Built by SCDF, Penguin Shipyard International, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency and Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Blue Dolphin can travel at a speed of up to 30 knots, and accommodate up to 30 seated casualties. Another of its features not available on the Red Dolphin is an integrated command post, which can draw information from the ship's cameras, detectors and operation logs to coordinate emergency responses. The new vessel's cameras provide clearer footage of surrounding waters to the operating crew, and are equipped with video analytics to help them identify potential targets in the water during search-and-rescue operations. The integrated command post can draw information from the ship's cameras, detectors and operation logs to coordinate emergency responses. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Since 2012 when SCDF's Marine Division took over the maritime firefighting function of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), it has expanded from two vessels and a single fire station to a fleet of seven vessels (including the Blue Dolphin), operating two marine fire stations and two marine fire posts. Building on the search-and-rescue capabilities of the Red Dolphin, the new vessel has an enhanced rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), which can now be used to fight fires on small stationary boats. The RHIB can also search coastlines with its sonar system, which uses sound waves to locate people and objects up to 7m underwater. The enhanced rigid hull inflatable boat can now be used to fight fires on small stationary boats. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Since 2017, the Marine Division has taken on an additional role handling marine chemical, biological and radiological incidents. If needed, it supports MPA in oil and chemical spill incidents. To deal with chemical emergencies, the Blue Dolphin is equipped with a hazmat sensor that can detect and identify most chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals and volatile organic compounds in the water up to 5km away. Its chemical, biological, and radiological system can then monitor and demarcate hazardous boundaries before responders are deployed. Speaking at the vessel's commissioning ceremony at the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club on June 25, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong said: 'SCDF Marine Division's capability, I would say, is critical amid a rapidly evolving maritime landscape. Singapore's cruise industry itself is expanding, with more cruise ships calling port in Singapore. 'For example, the Disney Cruise Line will soon launch its maiden voyage from the Singapore Cruise Centre at the end of 2025, and this itself means larger vessels, with more passengers, will appear in Singapore waters. 'In addition, the Tuas Mega Port's first phase of operations has commenced. By 2040, it will be one of the largest container ports in the world, and the resulting high vessel throughput will make Singapore one of the busiest waterways globally.' Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong participating in a tour of the marine rescue vessel on June 25. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The Disney cruise ship can carry 6,000 passengers and 2,300 crew members. By 2030, the Marine Division will operate 10 vessels, and will be supported by the new Marine Division Headquarters in Brani, which is slated to open in 2026. Another marine fire post at Northshore Crescent in Punggol is expected to be ready by 2028. Claudia Tan is a journalist at The Straits Times covering the crime and court beat. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
25-06-2025
- AsiaOne
Advanced navigational system, better rescue tools: SCDF unveils next-gen marine rescue vessel, Singapore News
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has officially unveiled their new second-generation Marine Rescue Vessel (MRV2G) named Blue Dolphin on Wednesday (June 25). Blue Dolphin operates from West Coast Marine Fire Station, strengthening SCDF's coverage and readiness on the western seaboard, said the agency. Built for major maritime emergencies, this vessel is equipped with modern command systems, chemical detection sensors, improved rescue tools, and green technology like solar panels and biofuel engines. Minister for Law and Second Minster for Home Affairs Edwin Tong was at the commissioning ceremony for this vessel at Republic of Singapore Yacht Club on Wednesday. 'Blue Dolphin represents the culmination of months of planning, of designing, careful construction, and testing. Every bolt, every weld, every system onboard carries the dedication and bears the hallmark of expertise of a highly capable team," he said. This vessel is a joint development between SCDF, Penguin Shipyard International, HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency), and Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA). Combating crew fatigue Blue Dolphin has an Integrated Command Centre with the Bridge, an Advanced Navigational System which includes a station-keeping feature to reduce crew fatigue, and an advanced Launch and Recovery System for quick deployment of its firefighting-equipped RHIB in shallow waters. In support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, Blue Dolphin will also be equipped with a solar charging system for its support equipment and biofuel-compatible engines, enhancing the vessel's overall sustainability. SCDF said that the Marine Division will operate a total of ten vessels by year 2030, and it will be supported by the new Marine Division Headquarters at Brani, scheduled to be operational by early 2026. In addition, a new Marine Fire Post at Punggol's Northshore Crescent to improve maritime coverage will be ready by 2028. Expansion of maritime sector Summing up, Tong pointed out that SCDF Marine Division's capability is "critical amid a rapidly evolving maritime landscape". The Singapore's cruise industry, for example, is expanding with more cruise ships calling port in Singapore. This includes the Disney Cruise Line which will launch its maiden voyage here at the end of 2025, meaning larger vessels, with more passengers, will appear in Singapore waters. In addition, the Tuas Mega Port's first phase of operations has started and it will be one of the largest container ports in the world by 2040, which will make Singapore one of the busiest waterways globally. The marine industry, he added, is also shifting towards greener operations and the use of alternative fuels such as LNG (liquefied natural gas), ammonia and methanol will bring new challenges for maritime response. He said: "So in order to meet these challenges, SCDF is committed to strengthening its capabilities to continue making sure we actively, effectively safeguard our waters. The Blue Dolphin represents the first step in this next phase of development." [[nid:719385]]
