Honolulu, Hawaii; December 30th, 2025
The United States Coast Guard reported that it conducted a long-range medical evacuation of a cruise ship passenger offshore Kauai, successfully transporting a critically ill woman from open ocean waters to advanced medical care on Oahu, following a request for assistance from the vessel’s master.
According to the UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, the operation originated when watchstanders at Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a call requesting a medical evacuation for a 61-year-old female passenger aboard the cruise ship Pacific World, an 857-foot, Japan-based passenger vessel. The ship was reported to be approximately 92 miles offshore of Kauai at the time of the evacuation.
The Coast Guard stated that the passenger was experiencing septic shock, a severe and life-threatening medical condition requiring urgent transport to a hospital capable of providing specialized treatment.
After receiving the request, Coast Guard watchstanders coordinated with a duty flight surgeon to evaluate the patient’s condition and determine the appropriate course of action. The Coast Guard reported that following this consultation, an aviation response was approved.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point was launched to conduct the medevac. The helicopter rendezvoused with the Pacific World at sea, where Coast Guard aircrew members executed a precision hoist, lifting the patient from the vessel and safely transferring her aboard the aircraft.
The Coast Guard reported that following the hoist, the helicopter crew transported the passenger directly to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Oahu, where she was transferred into the care of medical professionals for continued treatment. At the time of arrival, the Coast Guard stated that the woman was in stable condition.
The Coast Guard further reported that coordination for the medevac involved ongoing communication between the cruise ship’s crew and Coast Guard watchstanders, including monitoring of the vessel’s position and the patient’s condition prior to the helicopter’s launch. This coordination ensured that the aircrew had up-to-date information before executing the offshore hoist.
The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter platform used in the operation is a primary search-and-rescue aircraft for the Coast Guard, specifically designed for maritime operations, hoisting missions, and rapid response in offshore environments. Coast Guard aircrews assigned to this platform undergo extensive training to conduct medical evacuations in open-ocean conditions, including operations conducted far from shore and in variable weather.
The Coast Guard emphasized that medical evacuation missions such as this one are a core component of its maritime safety mission, providing emergency assistance to vessels operating beyond the immediate reach of land-based emergency services. These operations rely on coordination between ship masters, Coast Guard rescue coordination centers, medical personnel, and aviation units.
The Pacific World continued its voyage following the medevac, while Coast Guard assets returned to readiness status after completing the mission, according to the press release.
The Coast Guard did not release additional personal details about the patient or provide further medical information beyond what was included in the official statement.
Sources
Primary First-Hand Sources
- UNITED STATES COAST GUARD — Official press release titled “Coast Guard medevacs cruise ship passenger offshore Kauai”
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