Coast Guard must think it's safer. Navy thinks, "Why Not!"

NORFOLK - Sailors standing watch topside aboard Navy submarines are now required to wear life vests at all times following a drowning this summer at Norfolk Naval Station.

"The new life-jacket requirement comes despite the fact that Acosta apparently broke existing safety guidelines when he stepped off the nonslip surface of the submarine without first donning a flotation device, according to the report.

The 21-year-old sailor passed a Breathalyzer test and reviewed safety rules before assuming duty on a topside roving patrol that Saturday. Armed with an M16 rifle and a pistol, Acosta was walking along the rear of the sub when another sailor saw him step outside the safety ropes and off the boat's nonslip surface. A moment later, he fell from the stern.

The report noted that the Boise did not have complete safety lines installed at the time of the incident because of "a material deficiency."

Additionally, the investigator noted that having rescue divers assigned to the naval station's civilian emergency response team "would have been invaluable."

The investigation was conducted by Submarine Group 2 in Groton, Conn. and obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

In a coincidence, Molten Eagle recently learned that Medevac teams on subs are also now required to wear safety head gear.

Something (submarine experience) tells M.E. the life vest decision is going to have unintended safety consequences.  Let's hope M.E. will be wrong.  If not, the unavailable safety line alone (a cited "material deficiency") may have saved the young sailor, who was seen stepping outside the safety ropes, off the boat's nonslip surface and subsequently slipping over the stern.  No disciplinary actions were recommended as a result of the accident.

Submarines are always silent and strange.

Unidentified Submarine News Blackout - Part 2

Background - see Odd Unidentified Submarine News Blackout here.
Current submarine Medevac video:  11 OCT 2013

Submarine Medevac video: 29 OCT 2009.

Medevac Similarities (refer to videos and news)

• Neither Navy nor USCG Spokespeople would identify the submarines, nor the injury/illness requiring medevacs (although a fall and possible head injury were reported on 12 OCT 2013).
• MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters responded in both evacuations.
• Both subs' topsides are awash with only their sails above the surface. 

Medevac Differences (refer to videos and news)

• (29 SEP 2009) - Coast Guard medically evacuated crewmember from unidentified Navy SSGN
• (11 OCT 2013) - Coast Guard medically evacuated crewmember from unidentified Navy SSN

• (29 SEP 2009) - 2 men on bridge with evacuee wore helmuts; two more were without head gear (and at least one of the guys was recognizable*).
• (11 OCT 2013) -All 4 crew on bridge with evacuee wore protective headgear.

• (29 SEP 2009) - The Navy contacted the Coast Guard at 5:50 p.m. 
• (11 OCT 2013) - The Pearl Harbor based submarine contacted the Coast Guard shortly before 5 p.m.   

• (29 SEP 2009) - Released videos (several) each about 1:47 minutes long, in color and with audio.
• (11 OCT 2013)- Released video (one) 0:56 minutes long,  The much edited B&W video with no audio zoomed in on the sub's bridge crew to show all 4 wearing head protection gear similar to the helicopter crew's (and with head gear worn none of the guys are recognizable*). 

The last set of differences are particularly striking in our opinion. Had the videos from 2009 resulted in a security breach?  Look how grainy the B&W video is. No individuals can be recognized; not so in the earlier videos.

An off-topic reference to the current sub medevac was finally made by a commenter at TSSBP at 10/14/2013 6:48 AM

As we have always maintained,  we sincerely hope any injury is minor, and his recovery speedy and complete.  However, one must also wonder if one or both of these medevacs were live drills. Good on Navy for practicing something very tough and important, getting the safety requirement (head gear) down for all concerned, and plugging the video security breach* that had allowed identification of bridge team in the earlier medevac. Congratulations!

Submarines are always silent and strange.