OKINAWA, Japan: On October 5,
2014 three airmen working at the Kadena Air Force
Base were swept into the sea during Typhoon Phanfone,
a category-4 storm with winds reaching 150
miles an hour and estimated 15-30 foot high waves.
A joint rescue mission, launched by the 31st Air Rescue
Squadron stationed at Kadena and the 11th Division
of the Japanese Coast Guard and local fire department,
began shortly thereafter, deploying two GARCs
and six jetskis. Within hours, however, the jetskis were
disabled, unable to handle the waves and the breaking
surf; some with water jets clogged due to debris floating
in the water.
The GARC, a personal watercraft rescue boat, designed
for durability in breaking surf and high waves,
not only outperformed the six jetskis in this mission,
but rescued one of the jetski operators after a particularly
big wave hit the jetski. Although the same wave
hit the GARC broadside, it did not capsize.
The 143 horse power GARCs worked for three days
in up to 30 foot waves, with a payload of 2-3 Airforce
Pararescue Specialists (known as PJs) per GARC. The
boats only required refueling once per each 12 hour
day at sea.
Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (MAPC) has
now developed a line of manned and unmanned, gas,
diesel, and electric 3.6 and 5 meter GARCs that are
stable, dependable, durable, and can turn completely
around within one boat length. Mark Rice, President and Founder of MAPC: “The October rescue and recovery mission in Okinawa proves the GARC’s durability and reliability in extreme weather conditions.”
For more information on the GARC, please check out our website:
http://www.mapcorp.com/our-work/garc/ 
