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Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam watchstanders were notified by Emergency Operations Center Saipan on Monday, Aug. 15, of a medical transport request for a 50-year-old man reportedly having chest pains on Agrihan Island, about 245 miles from Saipan.

Agrihan is a small, 17 sq. mi. island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands with no permanent settlements or medical services. A Coast Guard duty flight surgeon recommended boat transfer to care as soon as possible, and Saipan EOC said it could not conduct the evacuation because of worsening seas.

Watchstanders diverted USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139), which was already underway on patrol. Since Agrihan has no developed harbor or pier, the plan was for the cutter's small boat to reach the adjacent lagoon, with the shore party guiding the Coast Guard crew in by smoke signals from the beach.

The crew transferred the man to the cutter on Wednesday, Aug. 17, and delivered him to waiting Saipan EMS personnel in good condition on Thursday, Aug. 18, before returning to Guam. Myrtle Hazard is a 154-foot Sentinel-class fast response cutter home-ported in Guam.