COAST GUARD - Surf Operations

Surf Operations

The Coast Guard's surf operations in the Pacific Northwest are a highly coordinated effort that frequently involves both surface and air assets, particularly the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) and the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. The Pacific Northwest, with its notoriously dangerous waters like the Columbia River Bar, is home to the National Motor Lifeboat School (NMLBS), where coxswains are trained to operate the surf boats in extreme conditions. While the boats are the primary tools for close-in surf rescues, the Dolphin helicopters from nearby Air Stations, such as Astoria, provide crucial aerial support. In a complex rescue, a helicopter crew can conduct a wide-area search, spot distressed mariners, and communicate their location to the surf boat crew. Helicopters can also deploy rescue swimmers to a person in distress and then hoist them to safety, a capability that is essential when sea conditions are too hazardous for a boat to approach. This combined approach of powerful surf boats and agile helicopters allows the Coast Guard to tackle a wide range of life-threatening scenarios, from pulling survivors from the churning water to providing immediate medical attention and transport.

• 18x24" Giclee' print
• Image size: 15x20.5"

• Signed and numbered by the artist

• Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity

• Ships carefully in a tube

*Please allow up two weeks prior to shipping