Stories from Harbor PatrolWaterfront

At 1:00 p.m. on May 23rd, Harbor Patrol received a call from the wife of a prospective kidney transplant recipient who had been on the “waiting list” for some time. She had been contacted by health officials who said a kidney from a deceased donor was waiting for him, but quick action was necessary to ensure he would be available in time for the transplant.

No problem, right? Well, the recipient was at the Channel Islands, and the Coast Guard and Harbor Patrol could not reach him by radio or cell phone. But there was still hope. Like all boaters should do, he had filed a “float plan” with his wife, who said he had sailed to Frys Harbor at Santa Cruz Island.

At 2:30 p.m., Harbor Patrol headed for the island aboard Patrol Boat #2 (PB #2), bucking heavy seas and 20-knot west winds along the way. Instead of heading directly for Frys, officers aimed for an area west of Frys, so they could check nearby small coves and anchorages in case the vessel had relocated. Meanwhile, the National Park Service began checking anchorages from the east end of the island working west.

Shortly after 3:30 p.m., Harbor Patrol arrived at Frys, and voila, there stood the “intended target” aboard a sailboat, looking somewhat astonished at a Harbor Patrol boat 25 miles from Santa Barbara Harbor. It was, in fact, one of the rare times—possibly the only time—Harbor Patrol has responded to Santa Cruz Island. Informed that his number was up and that Patrol would escort him back to Santa Barbara, he quickly packed a few essentials, climbed aboard PB #2, and the party of three—Officers Jan Martinez, Anthony Lombardi, and the prospective recipient—headed for the mainland. They arrived back at Santa Barbara Harbor at 4:45 p.m., and the recipient reported that he was safely in his room at a Los Angeles-area transplant center shortly before 6:00 p.m. He called Harbor Patrol the next day to say, “Thanks,” and to relay the news that he had received his new kidney.

At about 9:30 p.m. on January 27^th, Harbor Patrol Officers Erik Engebretson and Ryan Kelly were notified of a fire aboard the 32’ catamaran Wizard of Bristol berthed at a Marina 2 side-tie. After notifying the City Dispatch Center, Officer Engebretson responded on Patrol Boat 3 (PB #3), while Officer Kelly staged on Patrol Boat 2 (PB #2) for Engine 6 firefighters.

When PB #3 arrived on scene, the catamaran’s center cockpit was fully involved with fire. Officer Engebretson used a bow monitor to quickly attack the fire and protect neighboring boats from flames, heat and embers. Officer Kelly arrived within minutes with firefighters who extended fire-hose lines from standpipes on PB #2. The burning fiberglass-composite hull, canvas and sail materials, as well as the vessel’s design, made the fire difficult to extinguish, but that mission was completed within about ten minutes. Harbor Patrol and firefighters secured the vessel, deployed a containment boom and assisted fire investigators. Teamwork and training insured the fire did not spread to neighboring vessels or docks.

Photo courtesy of Peter Hartmann/Noozhawk

During the evening hours of October 25, 2014 Officers Karl Halamicek and Larry Nufer responded to a report from USCG of a 26’ motor vessel that was sinking nine miles southwest of Santa Barbara Harbor with two passengers aboard. Officers quickly got underway on Patrol Boat #2 (PB#2) and entered into the GPS the last known coordinates of the sinking vessel.

During the evening hours of September 24, 2014 Officers Erik Engebretson and Larry Nufer heard a MAYDAY call from the 45’ M/V Mesmerize that departed Santa Barbara Harbor about an hour earlier. The vessel’s operator reported they were sinking with six passengers aboard in a location approximately half way between Santa Barbara and Ventura Harbor.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Coast Guard and the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol worked together to rescue a man who was attempting to kayak from Santa Cruz Island to Santa Barbara, Thursday night.

The kayaker used his cell phone to call the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol for help, stating that he was disoriented and could see four nearby oil platforms. The harbor patrol relayed the call for help to the Coast Guard Command Center in San Pedro, Calif.

At about 6:40 p.m. on May 15th I was dispatched on Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol Rescue Boat #1 to Summerland Beach (Loon Point), approximately 5 miles east of Santa Barbara Harbor, to assist Carpentaria-Summerland Fire and State Parks with a water rescue of a “show horse.”

Photo courtesy of Paul Noury.

At 3:05 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3^rd, report of a bomb scare aboard the Land Shark was forwarded to Harbor Patrol and City Police. While at sea aboard the Land Shark, an individual reportedly threatened passengers with a pair of scissors and claimed another passenger had a bomb in his backpack. Harbor Patrol Officers aboard Patrol Boat #3 came alongside the Land Shark as it approached the Launch Ramp. One Officer was transferred onto the Land Shark while both boats were underway. The Officer proceeded to the back of the craft, where he detained and handcuffed the suspect as Police units arrived at the Launch Ramp Parking Lot.

After Land Shark passengers were safely escorted off the craft, the area was cordoned off and PD debriefed passengers and first responders. Police officers also secured the subject’s belongings, in which they found no bomb, but confiscated illegal drugs (hallucinogenic mushrooms) and several knives, including a shaving-style straight edge. The subject was taken to jail and booked on a range of serious charges. The Launch Ramp Parking Lot and docks reopened to vessel and pedestrian traffic at 3:45 p.m.

Staff wishes to acknowledge the professionalism of both Harbor Patrol and City Police in their response to this dangerous incident. In addition, Harbor Operations Division staff will conduct a thorough de-brief of our response, a “lessons learned” session to best understand and fine-tune how we react to unusual, dangerous events like these.

At 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21^st, Harbor Patrol received a report of an overturned skiff about two miles off Summerland. Officer Erik Engebretson and Crew Billy Larsen responded to the location, where a man already suffering mild hypothermia was drifting, awash, in stiff winds, his engine having failed. Known to Harbor Patrol from previous contacts in the East Beach Anchorage, the victim began seizing. Harbor Patrol warmed him and rushed him to the east side of Stearns Wharf, where medics and City Firefighters met him and sent him by ambulance to Cottage Hospital. The victim subsequently recovered from the accident. Key to the rescue was the reporting party, who was parked at the beach near Hammonds Reef checking the surf when he spotted the emergency. He never lost sight of the victim, guiding Harbor Patrol to the rescue point. Without his assistance, the victim would have been difficult to locate and save. This incident, like many in the past, demonstrates that cooperation between trained Harbor Patrol Officers and an alert, educated public often yields life-saving results.

At 5:05 p.m. on February 1^st, Harbor Patrol received a report that the captain of the 95’ oilfield crew-boat Alan T had suffered a seizure and needed assistance. Officers responded aboard Patrol Boat #3 to the Alan T two miles off Santa Barbara. Officer Nufer boarded the vessel, where he stabilized the patient, took command of the craft and safely navigated it back to Santa Barbara Harbor. An ambulance transported the patient to Cottage Hospital. This successful outcome reflects Harbor Patrol’s broad array of required training, exemplified by the boat-to-boat personnel transfer, medical response and maneuvering a 95' (triple-propeller) oilfield crew boat back to port.

As a day in the life, Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol Officers responded to a Mayday call from the 26-foot vessel Blind Girl, a brand new Bayliner with a crew of three, located just south of Santa Barbara Point. On Wednesday, just after sunset, vessel operator Gerald Gormley and passengers Robert and Vickey Thornburgh were whale watching when suddenly, a large whale breached and fell across the Vessel from the starboard-bow to her stern. Mr. Thornburgh was injured and disorientated when Officers arrived on scene. The Officers could see the vessel's cabin top had been ripped away and glass thrown everywhere. The pilot’s chair was pushed into a pretzel as the whale tail passed over the boat’s helm. Shaken and injured Mr. Thornberg was in the rear of the vessel when Patrol Officers boarded the boat to administer first aid. The unnerved victim complained of head and back pain, and a cervical-collar was immediately applied. Thornberg’s left index finger and both hands and wrists were covered in lacerations. Sterile bandages were administered, before the vessel Blind Girl and her crew were safely towed into the Santa Barbara Harbor where AMP personnel were standing by to assist in the transport to Cottage Hospital. (February 2006)

Harbor Patrol Officers responded to a distress call from the vessel G. Angel anchored in the winter anchorage east of Stearns Wharf. In total darkness, Rev. James Benson was returning to his vessel when high waves took his dinghy under the vessel G. Angel and tossed Rev. Benson into the ocean water leaving his two dogs in the dinghy. Training and quick responses to the situation saved the lives of Rev. Benson and his two canine companions. At the scene, Patrol Officers had Mrs. Benson turn on the running lights for better visibility, and throw a life-line out to the Reverend. Then the two Patrol Officers brought the Patrol Boat along-side the exhausted Rev. Benson and pulled him aboard. With Rev. Benson safe, Harbor Patrol put their focus on locating the drifting dinghy. The dogs were still inside the small craft. They were rescued and later re-united with the Benson family. On April 24th, the Mayor's Office and Harbor Patrol Office received a letter from Rev. Benson and family thanking the City of Santa Barbara and acknowledging Harbor Patrol Officers on a job well done.