Just days before “406 Day,” which promotes the life-saving impact of emergency beacons, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry rescued two mariners adrift near Namoluk Atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia.

On March 29, 2025, an aircrew from Caroline Islands Air spotted the mariners in an 18-foot skiff. The Oliver Henry responded, rescued the pair, and returned them safely to Namoluk, coordinating with local officials.

This rescue underscores the need for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, or EPIRBS, technology that can dramatically reduce search time in vast ocean regions.

Coast Guard officials urge mariners to register and carry EPIRBS or personal locator beacons, noting they can mean the difference between life and tragedy.

406 Day is observed on April 6 to raise awareness about these critical devices.