Tag Archives: Capt. Brian LeFebvre
Mayday Distress Call Audio: Coast Guard warns against false distress calls after suspected hoax
Over several minutes the caller described the vessel and crew’s situation in detail,,, Communication then ceased as Coast Guard rescue crews from Rockland and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, launched to search for the vessel and potential survivors. “Our Coast Guard rescue crews thrive on taking risks for the sake of helping others in distress on the water,” said Capt. Brian LeFebvre, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Northern New 
England. “Hoax distress calls – like the one we received this morning – unnecessarily put our rescue crews at risk, drain resources, and may limit our ability to respond to actual emergencies. Today’s hoax is particularly offensive given the loss of 4 fishermen aboard the F/V Emmy Rose just last week. We will use all available resources to identify and hold the responsible individual accountable.” >Audio, click to read the report< 18:01
PFDs: Too few commercial fishermen wear life jackets
I recall a great quote from the late Molly Benjamin, a Cape Cod Times fishing columnist and well-known voice for the New England fishing community. In one of her articles on a marine casualty, she wrote, “the Sea is not the home element of humans; we visit at our own risk.” Not wearing a lifejacket while fishing is the equivalent of driving down the most dangerous road in Maine, at high speed, with your seatbelt in the trunk of your car. The frustrating thing is fishermen know the hazards but continue to flout the lifejacket’s indisputable life-saving value. by Capt. Brian LeFebvre, USCG >click to read< 07:22
