What is the requirement for Coast Guard assistance when a vessel is aground?

The requirement for Coast Guard assistance when a vessel is aground hinges on the safety and immediate danger of the vessel or crew involved. If the grounded vessel or its crew are facing immediate danger, the Coast Guard prioritizes that situation and will respond to provide assistance. This emphasis on safety ensures that lives can be saved and further incidents can be avoided.

In other scenarios, such as being stuck for over an hour, the low visibility conditions, or lacking safety equipment, those factors do not constitute a requirement for assistance. These conditions may increase the risk involved or complicate the situation, but they do not automatically trigger the same urgency for Coast Guard intervention as the potential for immediate danger does. The focus on life safety underscores the Coast Guard's mission to protect and assist mariners in distress.