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The 'Ridley' participated in the Csearch for the missing Hunter Slezak, aged seven years, which was suspended on the evening of Dec 1, 2024, after locating and recovering two boaters deceased south of Dauphin Island, Alabama. Rescue crews from the Coast Guard and partner agencies searched by air and sea for approximately 65.2 combined hours and covered more than 2,042 square miles, after the 'Marty Ann' was reported overdue on the evening of Nov 29. with three people on board. The Coast Guard Sector Mobile Command Center issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and directed the launch of an Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 aircrew and a Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island response boat. The vessel had departed from the Billy Goat Hole Boat Ramp on Dauphin Island and was last heard from on the afternoon of Nov 29. On the afternoon of Nov 30, a boat crew of the Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island found a debris field approximately nnine miles south of Dauphin Island. They searched the area and located Sam Wooley, 69, and Michael Slezak, 40, both deceased. Rescue crews involved in the search: • Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile • Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans • Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island • Coast Guard Cutter Ridley • Alabama Law Enforcement Agency • Dauphin Island Police Department • Mississippi Wing - Civil Air Patrol • Lower Alabama Search and Rescue • Multiple good Samaritan boaters.

The 'Loch Portain', which had suffered a thruster issue on Nov 15 and continued operating on only three engines and was not able to operate to normal weather limitations and had extended passage times, was sent to the Dales Marine Services in Troon for permanent repairs in drydock on Dec 1. It left the port of Largs at 10.30 a.m. and arrived at the yard at 1 p.m. The service has thus been cancelled. A passenger only service was operating between The Fisherman’s Pier in Berneray and the Leverburgh pontoons.

On Nov 29 the Polish authorities have dispatched the emergency tug 'Kapitan Poinc' (IMO: 9072290) along with the tug 'H8' from the 3rd Flotilla of Navy Ships, towards the slowly drifting 'Sofia'. The vessel was located 16 nautical miles from the coast of Ustka as of Dec 20. During the night, the ship drifted around a dozen nautical miles to the east. The vessel’s owners dispatched the tug 'Fairplay 20' (IMO: 9112739) from Rostock to take the ship in tow to a shipyard for repairs. Two life rafts were been removed, which the crew had attached to the sides when planning to evacuate the vessel. There was water in the cargo hold, the hatches have been blown away by the explosion, and the ship was listiing to port side. However, the authorities stated that the 'Sofia' was not a threat to navigation in the area. It was initally towed to the roadstead of the port of Gdynia, but remained in the Bay of Gdańsk, scured by the 'Fairplay 20' and escorted by the 'Kapitan Poinc'. However, the ship did not enter the port and had not received permission to enter any Polish port because the shipowner did not comply with all formalities. Among other things, the shipowner did not send an official letter to the director of the Maritime Office in Gdynia requesting permission to enter the port of Gdynia. On the evening of Dec 1, the ship started the tow to Karlskrona by the 'Fairplay 20' with an ETA as of Dec 3. No details on the cause of the explosion nor the extent of damage caused by the explosion and the fire were reported. Reports with photos and video: https://www.portalmorski.pl/zegluga/57009-uszkodzony-statek-sofia-jest-holowany-w-strone-szwecji https://www.trojmiasto.pl/biznes/Na-statku-doszlo-do-wybuchu-Sofia-odeslana-do-Szwecji-n196429.html https://www.gospodarkamorska.pl/sofia-jest-holowana-w-strone-szwecji-81971 https://www.gospodarkamorska.pl/statek-dryfujacy-na-baltyku-bedzie-holowany-do-gdynskiego-portu-81959

The m/v 'Tony Smith' spotted a cayuco on Nov 30, 2024, about 30 nautical miles off La Restinga. The 'Salvamar Adhara' was tasked to assist by Salvamento Marítimo. The crew located the boat, which had lost engine power, and rescued the 216 people on board. Before, the Guardia Civil had located a boat about 10 nautical miles from El Hierro, which was escorted to the port by the 'Salvamar Acrux', The 57 people on board were cared for by the Cruz Roja. Report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1862915536977326383

On Dec 1, 2024, just after midnight, the 'Wind Walker' capsized and sank in the Icy Strait near Point Couverden, Alaska. The crew had sent out a distress call stating the vessel was overturning, which was received by the nearby ro-ro ferry 'Hubbard' (IMO:9812808). The ferry relayed the message to the US Coast Guard, which also received an EPIRB alert from the 'Wind Walker', suggesting the vessel had foundered after it capsized. The ferry was first to reach the area and started a search for the crew. Seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights were found in the sea. The Coast Guard searched the area with a Jayhawk helicopter and a 45-foot response boat, assisted by the 'Hubbard' and other fishing vesselsU nconfirmed reports stated there were five crew members on board the 'Wind Walker' at the time. On scene were rough weather conditions with heavy blinding snow with 60 mile per hour winds and six foot high swells. The Coast Guard Cutters 'Healy' and 'Douglas Denman' also proceeded to the search area to assist in the SAR operation. Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Juneau to search the area. Involved in the search were: - Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska - Coast Guard Air Station Sitka - Coast Guard Station Juneau - Coast Guard Cutter 'Healy (WAGB-20)' - AMHS 'Hubbard'.