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Long range medevac off Leeward Islands
A US Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen aircrew medevaced a 46-year-old crew member of the 'Kotka' on the morning of Sep 19, 2026, while the ship was sailing approximately 100 nautical miles east of St. Maarten. Rescue Sub-Center San Juan watchstanders were initially notified on the night of Sep 16, when the master of the container ship, reported that the crew member was suffering from a severe, non-ambulatory infection that was unresponsive to onboard medication. At the time of the initial notification, the 'Kotka' was positioned more than 1,300 nautical miles east of the Lesser Antilles, well beyond the operational reach of land-based rescue helicopters and days away from port. To overcome the extreme maritime distance and tight medical timeline, Coast Guard SAR coordinators formulated a phased operational plan that involved the ship increasing to maximum transit speed towards a designated rendezvous position east of the Leeward Islands. Meanwhile, Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen pre-positioned an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew in Sint Maarten on the afternoon of Sep 18 to shorten the distance for the medevac. A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft also launched out of Miami to provide continuous communications relay, navigation assistance, and top-cover air escort. Approximately 100 nautical miles east of St. Maarten, the MH-60T Jayhawk rendezvoused with the 'Kotka'. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was deployed to the vessel's deck, and he worked with the ship’s crew to prepare and safely hoist the mariner aboard the aircraft. Following the hoist, the helicopter crew completed the transit across the northeastern Caribbean, and they landed at the Base San Juan helipad, where awaiting trauma emergency medical service personnel received the patient and completed his transport to the trauma center of the Centro Médico Hospital in San Juan, for emergency specialised care. The operation was executed with vital support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations (CBP-OFO), Puerto Rico Emergency Medical Services, Centro Médico personnel, and the shipping agent for the 'Kotka'. Report with video: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4606839/coast-guard-conducts-complex-long-range-medical-evacuation-of-mariner-100-miles/
Maersk, world's largest shipping operator, returns its ships to Port of New Orleans
Maersk, the world's largest shipping operator, is returning regular weekly vessel service to the Port of New Orleans after three years of serving the area via charters on other carriers. The line reinstated service with the arrival Monday (Feb. 9) of the Maersk Kotka, a container ship capable of carrying 7,400 twenty-foot-equivalent units, the port said in a news release. The vessel inaugurated Maersk's weekly service to Northern Europe. Maersk will also offer weekly service to the Mediterranean Sea, using vessels from partner firm Mediterranean Shipping Company. http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/02/maersk_worlds_largest_shipping.html
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