Articles Posted in Cargo Vessel

On Wednesday, October 7th, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard medevaced an ailing crew member from the M/V OCEAN GLADIATOR, a 545-foot U.S. flagged cargo ship, which was located about 86 miles off the Big Island of Hawaii. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point hoisted a 55-year-old man at 8:35 a.m. and flew him to Hilo International Airport, where he was transferred to a higher level of medical care.

The call for help came a day earlier. At 7:50 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, watchstanders at Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a request from the ship’s crew, who reported that a crew member had been experiencing a medical condition aboard the vessel. At the time, the M/V OCEAN GLADIATOR was roughly 540 miles southeast of the Big Island, beyond helicopter range. After consulting with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac. Watchstanders kept in contact with the crew to monitor the patient and planned the hoist for when the ship came within reach of the helicopter.

The M/V OCEAN GLADIATOR was on a long voyage from Baltimore to Manila, carrying two decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard cutters to the Philippine Coast Guard, along with a fuel barge, as deck cargo. Tracking data showed the vessel resumed its voyage after the medevac. The U.S. Coast Guard has not released details about the man’s condition, and we wish him a full recovery.