My Coast Guard News - Tag search and rescue

The Official Emblem of the United States Coast Guard

May 28, 2026

Coast Guard begins modernizing search and rescue policy

Change empowers Operational Commanders and Search and Rescue (SAR) Mission Coordinators.

Two men are rescued by the USCGC Calhoun (WMSL 759) crew, June 12, 2025 from a life raft after their 57-foot sport fisher vessel, Turn Me Loose, sank 34 miles southeast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The father and son activated their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), which allowed rescue crews to pinpoint their location and safely recover them. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j.g. Adam Warren)

Sept. 30, 2025

Coast Guard takes charge of the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) program

Service replaces National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in overseeing network that detects distress signals.

National SAR Week (May 18-24) is a week that highlights the critical role of the Coast Guard in saving lives across land, air, and sea.

May 19, 2025

Rescue, Ready, Repeat: Honoring our SAR heroes

National SAR Week (May 18-24) is a week that highlights the Coast Guard's critical role in saving lives across land, air, and sea.

A black background and a globe setting the scene in space, there are satelites, planes, information flows, and arrows all showcasing how a distress call would originate, how it gets to the MCC, and then how it gets routed out to SAR teams to find the asset or personnel.

Nov. 1, 2024

Evolution of SAR

Search and rescue is a basic principle: someone is in distress and the Coast Guard answers the call, and that bias for action is an innate quality in the service’s long line of rescuers.

A rescue swimmer from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City prepares to be lowered on to the back section of a nacelle during a search and rescue exercise (SAREX) off the coast Virginia on Oct. 17, 2023. The goal of the unique training was to identify challenges, understand limitations, and develop solutions to uphold our commitment to search and rescue and safety at sea. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan L. Noel)

May 20, 2024

Happy National SAR Week!

Thank you to all the responders who risk their lives everyday.

April 5, 2024

406 Day 2024: Celebrating over 50,000 lives saved

The Coast Guard celebrates 406 Day, April 6th, alongside our Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) partners - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Space Force, and U.S. Air Force.

Aerial photograph showing, from left to right, fleet tug USS Wandank, submarine USS Sculpin, submarine rescue ship USS Falcon, naval shipyard tug Penacook, and Lighthouse Service tender Hibiscus, in addition to Coast Guard boats and spectator boats. (National Archives)

July 17, 2023

The Long Blue Line: Coast Guard helps rescue U.S. submarine Squalus over 80 years ago!

Trapped and tragically drowned in the flooded after compartments were 24 officers and sailors plus two civilian technicians. This left 32 officers and sailors and one civilian technician alive in the unflooded forward compartments.

June 26, 2023

Coast Guard convenes a Marine Board of Investigation for Titan Submersible

An MBI is the highest level of investigation in the Coast Guard. Upon completion of the investigation, the Board will issue a report to the Commandant with the evidence collected, the facts established, its conclusions, and recommendations.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Richard Dixon photographed in his dress blues in Oregon. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Jan. 13, 2023

The Long Blue Line: Senior Chief Richard Dixon—heavy-weather coxswain during powerful Fourth of July

Two notable rescues in the same weekend

Group photograph taken in 1875 of the student rescue crew and surfboat. (Courtesy of the NWU Deering Library)

Nov. 24, 2022

The Long Blue Line: Keeper Lawrence Lawson and students rescue Evanston crew Thanksgiving Day rescue 130 years ago

A Thanksgiving1889 rescue on Lake Michigan.

Support and partner resources