| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard |
|
|
| Media Advisory |
Date: Oct 18, 2007 Contact: Ms. Natalie Granger (202) 372-4632 |
Coast Guard and Federal Partners Celebrate 25-Years of Saving Lives
with the International Satellite Search and Rescue System
WASHINGTON -- On September 28, the fishing vessel Jacob Alan, sank 40 miles southeast of Nantucket Island. The crew issued a distress call and triggered their satellite emergency beacons initiating a successful rescue effort through the international satellite search and rescue system. Meghan Miner, a contract fisheries observer for the NOAA Fisheries Service and one of six survivors from that rescue, will join representatives from NOAA, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force to commemorate the 25th anniversary of COSPAS-SARSAT at its new command center in Suitland, Md. Since 1982 this system has saved more than 22,000 sailors, aviators and hikers worldwide, including nearly 6,000 in the United States and its surrounding waters.
Immediately following the news conference media will be able to access the satellite operations center for the first time to obtain an in-depth overview of mission control.
WHAT: News conference to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the international satellite search and rescue system.
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 19, 2007
2:00 p.m. EDT
WHERE: NOAA Satellite Operations Facility
Suitland Federal Center Campus
4321 Suitland Road
Suitland, Md.
Media teleconference number 888-455-7933, passcode SARSAT
WHO: Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.), under secretary of
commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator
Rear Admiral Wayne E. Justice, U.S. Coast Guard, assistant
commandant for response operations
Major General (Select) Marke F. Gibson, U.S. Air Force, director of
operations, deputy chief of staff, air, space and information operations,
plans and requirements
Megan Minor, NOAA fisheries observer
###
The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.
printer friendly