The White Hulls of the Coast Guard

The void plate had been removed to reveal 51 tons of marijuana inside.

Contributed by Clyde Lahnum, US Coast Guard Cutter Bibb

In July 1981, USCGC Bibb was returning from REFTRA in GTMO. Tropical storm Brett had just passed through the area off Delaware and New Jersey, leaving high winds of 35+ mph and seas upwards to 35ft. The M/V Vigilant, an oil rig replenishment ship, had cracked the main beam in its engine room. Bibb had been diverted to render assistance.

Upon arriving on scene, the Vigilant had a 12 degree starboard list and was in the process of lowering the first of two life rafts. Providing the best lee that we could, we lowered our 19ft MLB with the BM1 and two other boat crewman, including one of my best friends. By the time the MLB had intercepted the liferaft, the raft had already drifted over a mile. Within a little more than an hour after arriving on scene, the MLB had brought the personnel from the first raft to the Bibb.

Photo: In 1947, the Bibb rescued all crew members and passengers of the Bermuda Sky Queen, an American-owned flying boat, which ran out of fuel over the North Atlantic. Source: US Coast Guard Historian's Office.

As you might imagine the lowering and raising of the MLB, let alone the MLB's transit to and from the ship, was a harrowing experience to say the least. By the time the first of the crewman from the Vigilant were brought on the Bibb, the second life raft with the rest of the crew, including the master, had abandoned ship. The MLB was sent out again. It wasn't long before the MLB had recovered the rest of the crew and had brought them aboard Bibb. Not long later, the Vigilant capsized. It was marked and recorded as a hazard to navigation.

I wasn't involved with any of the operations, but I was on the mess deck assisting Vigilant's crew members with blankets and coffee. This was one of my first SAR cases that I had been involved with. I had recently enlisted, after serving 4 years in the Navy. What I will never forget about this one was my conversation with one of the older crew members from the Vigilant. While he was sitting there sipping his coffee, he looked up and told me, "Son, I have been going to sea for almost 30 years. During those times, I have seen the white hulls of Coast Guard cutters. Each time, I said 'Here we go again,' just before we were boarded. But, I have to tell you I was never so relieved in all my life to see the white hull of your cutter on the horizon. Thank God." I have some great footage on 8mm of the operation. I will never, ever forget it.

In the summer of '82, the cutter Bibb had intercepted an oil rig replenishment vessel, the Rio Panuco, approximately 50 miles northwest of Bermuda. When we contacted the master, he stated that his last port of call had been Aruba and his next port of call was Aruba.

Curious as to what the ship was doing so far north out the Caribbean with its next port of call in the southern Caribbean, we asked permission for a consentual boarding. The master had been having trouble with his rudders. They were jammed and he had been steering with his engines. Thinking that we could assist, he agreed to have us come aboard.

While the boarding was taken place, the master accompanied the boarding officer while the rest of his crew had been mustered on the Panuco's fantail. All was going well and the master very cooperative, until the boarding officer started asking questions about a void entrance plate that had wear marks around the large bolts that held it firm to the bulhead. The plate had bondo haphazardly applied around the plate. The plate was large enough to allow a man entry to the void. The master became nervous and asked the boarding team to leave.

Back on board the Bibb, we started the process of gaining a statement of no objection from the Mexican government. The master claimed Mexican registry. The Rio Panuco turned and headed south with the Bibb 1000-2000 yards astern. We followed the ship for 3 days.

One Sunday, the general alarm was sounded. The crew were at their GQ stations in less than 5 minutes. We learned that the Rio Panuco had tried to ram us. By the time we were manned and ready, they set up for another pass. The master claimed that he was having more difficulty steering with his engines. It strikes me funny to this day, how after we pointed our 5" 50 gunmount at him, his steering problems went away.

Alexander Haig had to send a message to the Mexican government to speed the registry check on the vessel. Finally the Mexican government refuted the master's claim of registry, rendering the Rio Panuco stateless and therefore subject to U.S. laws.

Upon boarding the vessel the next time, the void plate had been removed to reveal 51 tons of marijuana inside. The crew was arrested and the vessel seized.