Maritime Heroes: Collaborative Rescue of Injured Seafarer by Coast Guard and Local Law Enforcement

Just last week, a dramatic rescue unfolded on the Hudson River when local first responders teamed up with the U.S. Coast Guard to airlift a crew member from a Chinese freighter.

It all kicked off around 6:50 PM on March 27, when the Coast Guard’s New York sector received an urgent call for help from the freighter Sheng Ping Hai. The ship had recently left Albany and was making its way downriver toward Colombia when disaster struck—a 23-year-old fourth assistant engineer suffered serious spinal injuries and required immediate evacuation.

The Ulster County Sheriff’s office quickly mobilized a response boat that was nearby, while the Coast Guard sent out their cutter, USCGC Wire, from Saugerties. Time was of the essence as they raced to assist.

The injured seafarer was carefully placed in a Stokes litter. As the freighter continued downstream, responders positioned themselves alongside it. Using ropes, they lowered him onto their boat in what turned out to be a smooth medevac operation.

Once safely aboard, he was taken back to shore at Saugerties and handed over to an ambulance crew for transport to a local hospital. Thankfully, his injuries were assessed as non-life-threatening by officials.

The Coast guard is currently looking into how this unfortunate incident occurred while the Sheng Ping Hai resumed its journey south along the East Coast and through Bahamian waters.

this vessel is quite impressive—it’s a geared bulk carrier weighing in at 56,000 dwt and built in 2012. Owned by a company based in Hainan and operated by Cosco (the largest shipping firm globally), it’s just one example of how international maritime operations can intersect with local emergency services.