Coast Guard drops supplies to seven mariners found safe on deserted Pacific island

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HONOLULU -- An HC-130 Hercules airplane aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point drops supplies to seven mariners who are stranded on a deserted Pacific island in the Republic of the Marshall Islands Nov. 6, 2011. Seven males between the ages of 19 and 30 left the southwestern part of Maloelap Atoll en route north to Kaven Island, Nov. 3, 2011. The Royal Australian Navy liaison to the Republic of the Marshall Islands contacted Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders and reported the vessel as 24 hours overdue.

JRCC personnel worked closely with Royal Australian Navy liaison in developing joint search patterns that would be used by assets of both governments. On the second day the Hercules aircrew spotted the missing men on the beach of a small island waving palm fronds near a blue vessel matching the description of the overdue 20-foot skiff.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands 107-foot patrol boat Lomor was diverted and picked up the survivors. The survivors were taken back to their home atolls via the Royal Australian Navy motor vessel Miss Telitha.

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