Coast Guard Rescue

Published on: May 30, 2023

3 Rescued After Boat Sinks near Coos Bay

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people on Monday morning, May 29th, after their vessel sank in the waters off Cape Arago beach, about 15 miles southwest of Coos Bay.

At about 8 a.m. the U. S. Coast Guard received a distress call reporting that a fishing boat was taking on water. A 47-foot motor lifeboat and a helicopter launched from Coos Bay and North Bend. Responders were at the scene within 30 minutes, where they found three people in the water, all wearing life jackets.

A U.S. Coast Guard rescuer was lowered onto the motor lifeboat and helped administer first aid to the three people. Victims showed signs of hypothermia and were treated by first responders.

Published on: March 28, 2023

Pacific Titan Crew Member Medevaced after Head Injury

by Joseph Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center received a call on March 21^st at approximately 3:40 p.m. from the captain of the towing vessel PACIFIC TITAN. It was reported that during a towing operation, a 30-year-old crewmember had sustained a head injury. The vessel was located near Pennock Island, Alaska at the time of the incident.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew was dispatched from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Ketchikan and arrived on the scene of the accident at 4:19 p.m. The injured worker was transported to awaiting EMS personnel in Ketchikan, Alaska.

“Good communication with the Pacific Titan and the Station Ketchikan boat crew ensured proper coordination for the medevac,” said Coast Guard Search and Rescue Controller David Berg, a civilian watchstander at the Sector Juneau command center. “We were able to conduct the medevac efficiently so the patient could receive a higher level of medical care.”

Published on: February 7, 2023

Search for F/V Ethel May Crewmember Suspended

by Nigel Stacey

U.S. Coast Guard Watchstanders at the Thirteenth District in Seattle received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) transmission from the F/V ETHEL MAY on Sunday, February 5^th at approximately 7:30 p.m. The 46-foot crabbing vessel was near the Willapa Bay entrance at the time of the distress transmission.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Oregon, were also notified that the wife of one of the men aboard the vessel called 911 to report an emergency.

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria immediately launched a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and U.S. Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat and crew.

Published on: January 17, 2023

U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 7 from Disabled Tug

by Nigel Stacey

On Saturday January 14^th, 2022, The U.S. Coast Guard rescued seven people after a 1,000-foot towing line snapped and the tug they were piloting became disabled. The incident happened about 30 miles off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland at approximately 3:30 a.m.

Crew members aboard the tug LEGACY were towing a 290-foot barge from New Jersey to Guyana at the time of the incident. The 1,000-foot towing line became caught in the starboard propeller. One engine was still functional, and the crew tried to regain control of the barge; however, the line snapped.

One of the LEGACY crew members called the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region and reported that they were disabled, adrift, and preparing to abandon ship.

Published on: November 1, 2022

13 Rescued After F/V Tremont Collides with Container Ship

by Joseph Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 13 people from a sinking fishing vessel on Friday, October 28^th after the vessel collided with a container ship. The 115-foot F/V TREMONT was about 60 miles off the coast of Virginia, just southeast of Chincoteague at the time of the accident.

Watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia received a mayday call at about 2 a.m. from the F/V TREMONT, stating that they were sinking after colliding with the 1000-foot Panamanian-flagged C/V MSC RITA. It was reported that there were 13 people aboard the fishing vessel, and that they were abandoning ship.

An urgent marine information broadcast was issued to all area vessels, and watchstanders issued the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, a U.S. Coast Guard Station Chincoteague Motor Life Boat, then diverted the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Rollin Fritch. Two additional aircrafts from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City in North Carolina were also dispatched.

Published on: September 20, 2022

Crew Rescued after F/V Preamble Catches Fire

by Joseph Stacey

On Wednesday, September 14^th, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued 2 crewmembers (and one cat) after the 49-foot F/V PREAMBLE caught fire. The vessel was located approximately 57 miles west of Gold Beach, Oregon at the time of the incident. A Coast Guard Air Station North Bend MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew hoisted the crewmembers and the cat from their life raft.

As a backup, a Sector Humboldt Bay MH-65E aircrew was also launched and sent to the location, which arrived just after the North Bend aircrew rescued the survivors. Thanks to the fast action by the U.S. Coast Guard and a sound life raft, all were rescued.

As colder weather approaches, all fishers and crewmembers are urged to make certain that EPIRBs, survival suits, life rafts, and other safety gear are in proper working order. Every crewmember must be properly trained, and safety procedures should be rehearsed. While work at sea is inherently dangerous, risk can be mitigated when proper safety procedures are followed.

Published on: September 13, 2022

Coast Guard Rescues F/V Lodestar Crew

by Nigel Stacey

The 66-foot F/V LODESTAR was located about 180 miles off the coast of Coos Bay, Oregon when the vessel lost propulsion and required assistance. Winds were reported as approximately 40-knots with 8-to-10 foot waves while crewmembers were stranded in the stormy seas aboard the disabled vessel.

Watchstanders at the 13^th U.S. Coast Guard District command center in Seattle received the call for help at 9:21 p.m. on Friday, September 9^th.The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter STRATTON and crew were diverted, and the cutter arrived on the scene of the disabled fishing vessel at 1 p.m. on Saturday September 10^th.

The F/V LODESTAR was placed in tow, then rendezvoused with a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Coos Bay about 45 miles off the Oregon coast. The tow was transferred to the Motor Lifeboat, and the fishing vessel and rescued fishermen were safely transported to Charleston, Oregon.

Published on: February 15, 2022

Two Fishermen Rescued from Sinking F/V Glory

by Joseph Stacey

Two fishermen were rescued by the US Coast Guard on Monday February 7^th near Sitka, Alaska after the 40-foot F/V GLORY began taking on water.

Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders received a call from the distressed vessel at about 8 p.m. An Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew were launched and directed to the vessel at Islet Passage, approximately nine miles south of Sitka.

The US Coast Guard aircrew lowered a rescue swimmer onto the vessel to evaluate the situation. Crewmembers were unable to locate the source of the flooding, so it was advised that the fishermen abandon ship. US Coast Guard aircrew successfully hoisted the two fishermen at about 9 p.m.

Published on: November 15, 2021

F/V Julia Breeze Sinks, 4 Mariners Rescued

by Joseph Stacey

Four mariners were rescued from a raft on November 10, 2021, after they abandoned ship about 13 nautical miles west of Cape Ommaney, near the southern tip of Baranof Island, Alaska.

Watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau received a distress call at about 10:40 via VHF radio channel 16. Crewmembers reported that the V/F JULIA BREEZE was taking on water and that they were abandoning ship.

An Air Station Sitka helicopter crew was launched at 10:45 and arrived on the scene at about 11:40. The aircrew located a debris trail from the 53-foot fishing vessel as well as the survival raft. All four of the V/F JULIA BREEZE crew members were able to don survival suits and made it into the survival raft.

Published on: November 1, 2021

Four Rescued After F/V LAURA Runs Aground

by Nigel Stacey

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received a distress call from the master of the F/V LAURA on Monday, November 1, 2021, after the vessel reportedly ran aground on the shore at Black Rock, on Kodiak Island. It was also reported that the crew was using life rafts to abandon ship.

An Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules aircrew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew were launched. Thanks to assistance from the good Samaritan F/V STILLWATER, the aircrews were able to quickly locate the fishermen. A Coast Guard helicopter crew deployed a rescue swimmer to hoist the crew-members from the sinking 90-foot F/V LAURA, and safely transported them to Air Station Kodiak.

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is that all crew members have proper safety equipment and training. For more information, read our post regarding the maintenance and testing of immersion suits.