Portage FD Water Rescue, Search and Recovery Team

Last night, members of the PFD Water Rescue Team joined crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station Michigan City and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit for a joint training exercise on Lake Michigan.

Despite windy conditions and rough seas, boat operators, safety divers, and Coast Guard crews completed multiple hoist evolutions. The Air Station crew also conducted several rescue swimmer evolutions while PFD Water Rescue and Coast Guard Station Michigan City personnel stood by in support.

This training marked the first hoist exercise since the return of Portage Marine 1 following its major refurbishment. In addition to the hoist operations, PFD Water Rescue Team members completed surface water rescue, man overboard (MOB), and rough-water navigation training.

Joint training opportunities like these are critical to ensuring our agencies can work seamlessly together during real-world emergencies. We appreciate the professionalism of the crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station Michigan City and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit, and we thank them for the opportunity to train alongside them and for their continued confidence in our team's capabilities.

If you're out on Lake Michigan, you may see our agencies conducting additional joint training exercises throughout the season. Every training evolution helps strengthen our readiness to serve our communities when it matters most.