Tragedy has struck again in the Alaska crab fleet. On January 6, 2009 Keith Criner of Stockton, CA was pulled overboard while fishing on the SEABROOKE, 22 miles northwest of Cold Bay. Reports indicate that Criner got tangled up in a crab pot line while setting gear, and was pulled…
Maritime Injury Law Blog
“PACIFIC GLACIER” CREW TRAINING PAYS OFF
The Pacific Glacier, home ported in Seattle, made it back to Dutch Harbor under it’s own power after a fire threatened to destroy it in the Bering Sea. On February 26th the Pacific Glacier caught fire at sea. First mate, Odd Rotset, summoned fire crews aboard the vessel, who were…
SEARCH FOR VESSEL “TRANSITION” CALLED OFF
Mike Dunne and Vern McGee are missing, along with the vessel “Transition.” On February 22, 2008 the Coast Guard was notified, and a 6-day search began that covered 6700 square miles of water and shoreline. On the 27th, a door from the Transition was found on Frederick Sound on Kupreanof…
Joe Foss Sinks off the Oregon Coast
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 the tugboat Joe Foss sunk in 210 feet of water off the Oregon Coast near Tillamook. All three crew members were rescued by a nearby fishing vessel, the Kilchis, before the Coast Guard transferred them to their station in Tillamook Bay. The tug was believed to…
Crabbing Vessel Anna Marie Grounded on Copalis Beach
January 23, 2008 the 78-foot crabbing vessel, Anna Marie, became grounded on the north end of Copalis Beach, WA. No injuries were reported. Attempts continue to try and pull the vessel back to deeper water. 2000 gallons of fuel and 200 gallons of other petroleum products are aboard, and they…
Fishing Vessel Haeshin Strikes Jetty
January 21, 2008 the 69-foot fishing boat, Haeshin, hit a jetty near Westport, WA and sank into the channel. All three crew members were rescued before the vessel went under in 30 feet of water. The Haeshin reportedly had 540 gallons of diesel aboard when it sank. Crews were unable…
Lady of Grace Sinking Likely Due to Ice
January 25, 2008 Coast Guard investigators announced that the Lady of Grace capsized and sank on January 26, 2007 likely because of excessive ice buildup on the rigging, making it top heavy. The Lady of Grace was approximately 12 miles out from Hyannis, Mass when it sank, losing all four…
“Operation Safe Crab” to Conduct Vessel Safety Spot Checks
The Coast Guard will be conducting safety spot checks, voluntary dockside exams, and offering basic safety training in various Northwest ports from November 26-28, 2007 as part of “Operation Safe Crab.” Coast Guard examiners will be checking that vessels have all the proper safety equipment on board and that proper…
EPIRB Assists in Rescue in Sinking of Lady Blackie
Monday, November 26th, 2007: Lady Blackie, a 90 foot fishing vessel, began taking on water at about 4:45 am in Wide Bay in Shelikof Strait. An EPIRB signal alerted the Coast Guard, who was able to make contact with the boat and learned that the vessel was taking on water…
M/S Explorer Hits Ice and Sinks
On Friday, November 23, 2007 the Canadian cruise ship “M/S Explorer” began taking on water after hitting submerged ice off of Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands. 154 tourists and crew abandoned ship into lifeboats, and were later picked up by the Norwegian liner Nordnorge, that took them safely to a Chilean…