How the U.S. Coast Guard Conducts Searches and What Boaters Can Do to Improve Rescue Chances

When a boater calls in distress, U.S. Coast Guard command duty officers immediately begin collecting critical information. On the other end of the line, senior chief petty officers like Jenell Webster and her colleagues use a concise reference card to capture the details needed for the Coast Guard’s data-analysis systems. Their objective is straightforward: gather usable information quickly and have rescue units searching within 30 minutes.

“Our clock starts when we hang up the phone,” Webster says. The more precise and complete the information callers provide, the more accurately the Coast Guard can model probable locations and move from a broad search to a targeted rescue. When initial reports lack detail, the search area expands and the operation shifts into a longer, more uncertain search phase.

One tragic example that illustrates these challenges involved 82-year-old sailor Hugh Blankenship, who was attempting to sail home from Maryland aboard the 29-foot Catalina/Morgan Marta. According to news accounts, Blankenship had spent his life at sea and had checked in regularly with family, but eventually failed to be heard from. He had minimal onboard electronics—only a handheld VHF radio, a cellphone and paper charts. After an extensive effort that covered more than 350,000 square nautical miles and involved 15 Coast Guard aircraft and a dozen Navy assets, the search was ultimately suspended after 11 days.

The Coast Guard does not assign blame for maritime accidents, but such cases make clear how critical early, detailed information is to a successful rescue. “We’ll have some calls where we think we can do really well,” Webster explains, “and others where we’re asking, ‘What are we looking for? Where are we looking?’” The difference often comes down to what was included in the boater’s float plan and what equipment was on board.

File a Detailed Float Plan

Creating a thorough float plan before leaving the dock is one of the most effective steps a boater can take. Webster emphasizes that a float plan should be more than a simple note about where you intend to go; it should document the vessel’s specifications, fuel capacity, estimated speed and intended route. With these particulars, the Coast Guard can run voyage scenarios to identify likely drift and search areas.

A practical float plan also lists what the boater will be doing, expected check-in intervals, and a designated shore contact who is not on the trip. “If you miss your scheduled call-in after two hours,” Webster says, “we know where to start searching because we have a recent position and time window. That shortens the search area dramatically.”

Include common stop points in your plan: marinas where you refuel, restaurants or fuel docks where you usually stop, and fishing grounds you frequent. These routine locations provide a focused starting point for radio call-outs and inquiries to other boats in the area—sometimes resolving an incident quickly if the boater simply missed a check-in.

Equip the Boat Properly

Beyond a solid float plan, the right equipment greatly improves the likelihood of being found. Webster stresses that a fixed-mount VHF marine radio is preferable to a handheld unit because a fixed radio has a higher antenna and therefore a longer effective range. A handheld VHF can be useful, but its limited transmit power and lower antenna height reduce reach; a nearby boater may still hear you and relay information to the Coast Guard if your radio does not reach shore towers.

Cellphones can be very useful for near-shore incidents, but Webster advises dialing 911 for emergencies rather than contacting the Coast Guard directly by phone. Local 911 centers can obtain your phone’s location quickly and forward the necessary information to the Coast Guard, which helps accelerate the response.

Flares remain an important visual distress signal, but use them judiciously. If you have a multi-pack of flares, fire one and wait for confirmation of a sighting before using another. Search teams will be looking for additional flares after an initial report, so conserving flares until responders are closing reduces the risk of exhausting your visual signals prematurely.

Carry and Register a 406 MHz EPIRB

An emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) operating on 406 MHz is strongly recommended. Unlike personal locator beacons, a 406 MHz EPIRB is typically registered to the vessel and transmits via satellite, providing a much more accurate position when it has a clear view of the sky. Make sure your EPIRB is properly registered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and that the registration lists a shore-based emergency contact who will not be on the boat. That registration includes owner information and emergency contact details that are vital when responders are locating a vessel.

Proper preparation—filing a detailed float plan, carrying appropriate communication gear, using flares sensibly and registering an EPIRB—does not guarantee every rescue will be successful. But these steps significantly increase the odds of moving quickly from a broad search to a precise rescue effort. “Having everything in order doesn’t guarantee a successful search,” Webster says, “but it improves the odds of getting to the rescue phase. There is a chance that we can find these guys.”

This article originally appeared in the February 2019 issue.