CG locates drifting fishermen

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard located two fishermen drifting in a life boat off the coast of Panama City, Fla., early Sept. 2. The raft and occupants were located by CG aircraft, and recovered by a good Samaritan vessel. The duo was later transferred to the Franklin County (Fla.) Sheriff’s office, who brought them ashore. CG Sector Mobile (Ala.) watchstanders received notification at 9 p.m. on Sept. 1 of an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) signal coming from the Panama City coastline. The CG had directed the launch of an Aviation Training Center-Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircrew and a CG Station Panama City response boat and crew to search for the raft. (Source: Coast Guard 09/02/17)