Bowhead Saavgaq Vessel Rescues Two Near Dauphin Island

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. — Bowhead’s Saavgaq vessel and crew rescued two people from a sinking vessel in vicinity of Dauphin Island, Alabama, on the evening of Feb. 5, 2024.

The Saavgaq vessel was conducting hoisting operations and training with a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew that evening when the mayday call came over the radio just before 6 p.m.

The mayday call identified the location of a 49-foot vessel in distress with two people onboard. The vessel in distress had encountered rough seas and was sinking.

The Saavgaq crew and Coast Guard pilots observed the location of the vessel in distress was approximately one mile from their training, so both Saavgaq and Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter diverted to render assistance.

The Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene first and deployed its rescue swimmer to the vessel in distress. When the Saavgaq vessel arrived on scene, the Saavgaq captain positioned the vessel alongside and recovered two people from the sinking vessel. As the second person was recovered to the Saavgaq, the bow of the sinking boat submerged under the water.

The Saavgaq crew brought the two survivors into the cabin to protect them from the elements. A part-time captain in training aboard the Saavgaq vessel is also a full-time firefighter and qualified emergency medical technician (EMT). A medical assessment was conducted, and the two survivors were in good condition and needed no further medical attention. The Saavgaq vessel transported the two rescued individuals to Dauphin Island Marina, and then to a local hotel.

The Saavgaq vessel trains five days a week with Coast Guard pilots from Aviation Training Center Mobile for precisely this kind of rescue. This is the first rescue the Saavgaq vessel has participated in since its commissioning and dedication ceremony held in September 2023.
The vessel is named in honor of Clifford Saavgaq Okpeaha, an expert mariner and search and rescue volunteer who served the Utqiaġvik community and North Slope of Alaska for over 30 years.

Clifford Saavgaq Okpeaha was an original shareholder of Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC), an Alaska Native Corporation as established by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. UIC is the parent company of UIC Government Services (Bowhead).

The Saavgaq vessel is a 1973 U.S. Coast Guard 41-foot utility boat. The vessel was in active Coast Guard service for about 30 years and then Coast Guard Auxiliary service for an additional 10 years, all in the Great Lakes region.

Now serving with Bowhead, the vessel continues to support the Coast Guard in the greater Mobile Bay area.

This rescue, and the training the Saavgaq vessel conducts with the Coast Guard, demonstrated the significant contribution and mission critical support Bowhead provides the Coast Guard and Aviation Training Center Mobile.

Bowhead is proud to provide vital training support that enhances the Coast Guard’s operations and capabilities in safeguarding our nation’s maritime interests.