Maritime News

Published on: January 2, 2024

Ocean Beauty Seafoods reveals plan to sell distribution business

In an official statement, Ocean Beauty Seafoods revealed that distribution operations, with facilities located in Astoria and Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; Dallas, Texas; Helena, Montana; Renton, Washington; and Salt Lake City, Utah, are currently for sale.

The company further stated that the sale aligns with the “long-term business strategy” of Bristol Bay Economic Corporation as well as the three individual investors who have held ownership since the mid-1990s. They report that they are diversifying into alternative investments.

“The owners feel that this is a good time to explore selling the distribution operation due to its strong performance in recent years,” Ocean Beauty Distribution President and COO Mike Coulston said.

Published on: November 28, 2023

Derelict Vessel El Capitan Sinks off Orcas Island

by Nigel Stacey

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the Islands’ Oil Spill Association (IOSA) were deployed on Saturday, November 18^th, 2023, to address the sinking of the 80-foot vessel EL CAPITAN at West Sound Marina on Orcas Island.

Watchstanders at Sector Puget Sound command center were alerted by West Sound Marina about the rapidly sinking vessel near the pier in roughly 30 feet of water, and a visible sheen was observed.

Coast Guard Pollution Responders promptly informed IOSA, who arrived at the scene and worked with the marina to deploy booms and absorbents. As a precautionary measure, IOSA brought several trailers loaded with additional boom supplies. The Washington Department of Ecology also responded to support IOSA’s efforts. Throughout the weekend, IOSA monitored the sinking vessel.

Published on: November 21, 2023

Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes in Alaska

by Joseph Stacey

Four Coast Guard personnel sustained injuries following the crash of their MH-60 Jayhawk during a search and rescue mission in Alaska. The Air Station Sitka based helicopter crashed on Read Island, just south of Juneau.

At approximately 8 p.m. on Monday, November 13^th the F/V LYDIA MARIE began taking on water amidst the rough seas of Frederick Sound. A distress signal was promptly transmitted by the ship’s captain to the U.S. Coast Guard, and the vessel navigated towards the sheltered northern coast of Read Island in Farragut Bay while awaiting assistance.

According to reports, the initial responders to Monday night’s Air Station Sitka helicopter crash were the crew members from the distressed fishing vessel the U.S. Coast Guard was dispatched to assist. Two brothers aboard the F/V LYDIA MARIE reportedly played a pivotal part in rescuing the stranded air crew after hearing the crash.

Published on: October 31, 2023

Mariner Lost at Sea Nearly 2 Weeks Found Alive

by Nigel Stacey

One of the two fishermen who disappeared nearly two weeks ago along the Washington coast has been found alive, floating in a life raft just west of Vancouver Island. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian family members spotted then rescued the man approximately 70 miles northwest of Cape Flattery on Thursday, October 26th, 2023.

Ryan Planes and his uncle, John, were preparing their fishing equipment on the shores of Vancouver Island when they noticed a small life raft drifting nearby. The individual in the raft had exhausted his supplies of food and water and had fired his final flare to alert them.

Ryan Planes and his uncle promptly rescued and transported the mariner to the Canadian Coast Guard for assistance.

Published on: September 5, 2023

Commercial Crab Fishery Closed

by Joseph Stacey

Due to disappointing population surveys once again this year, the commercial harvests of red and blue king crab in Southeast Alaska will remain closed during the 2023–24 season. Stock assessment models have revealed a biomass of just 188,899 pounds, falling short of the 200,000-pound threshold required to authorize the fisheries.

The closure of the fishery, due to insufficient biomass, is not unexpected for those overseeing stocks. Insufficient biomass has prevented the fleet from deploying pots since 2017.

On a positive note, the outlook is promising for the fishery in the upcoming year.

Published on: August 8, 2023

Trident Seafoods begins construction at Captains Bay

by Joseph Stacey

Trident Seafoods is in the process of constructing the initial bunkhouses for their upcoming processing plant located in Captains Bay, Unalaska. The company hopes to have the plant operational by 2027.

The Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea are known for some of the most productive fishing grounds globally. The region is famous for harvesting Alaska pollock, the whitefish commonly used in products like fish sticks and McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwiches.

A sizable portion of the harvested pollock is currently processed at the expansive Trident Seafoods facility in Akutan. However, due to aging infrastructure and years of wear and tear, the seafood company has elected to construct a new facility.

Published on: July 18, 2023

Roger Fitzgerald, National Fisherman Columnist Passes

by Joseph Stacey

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Roger Fitzgerald, an 85-year-old maritime writer. He was best known for his column titled “In Search of the Simple Life”. His column brought joy and amusement to commercial fishermen spanning from Seattle to the Bering Sea and beyond. The cause of his death was heart failure.

Over the course of 25 years, his writings in the Alaska Fisherman’s Journal and National Fisherman chronicled the remarkable transformation within the Alaska fishing industry. This evolution witnessed the shift from traditional wooden boats and iced fish to the advent of state-of-the-art factory trawlers.

Fitzgerald skillfully blended humor and admiration as he showcased a diverse cast of maritime characters. Among them were the Samuelsons and the Knutsens, skilled captains of historic halibut schooners that had been sailing the seas since the 1920s, and Sea Lion Murphy, a seasoned seinerman hailing from Cordova, Alaska.

Published on: April 18, 2023

2023 Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial Service

by Joseph Stacey

The 2023 Fishermen’s Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 7^th at 2 p.m. at Fishermen’s Terminal. Please mark your calendar for this special event to honor those who have been lost at sea.

The Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial is a charitable organization dedicated to promoting safety in the fishing fleets and easing the emotional pain and financial burden of education for surviving family members of fishermen lost at sea. Professional grief support is available to grieving families.

This event is an opportunity for the community to gather for a dedication, remembrances, and the installation of tiles at the Memory Wall.

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: August 2, 2022

Washington Ferry Cathlamet Crashes into Pilings

by Joseph Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard from the Puget Sound sector was deployed on Thursday morning, July 28^th at about 8:20 a.m. after the Washington State Ferry CATHLAMET crashed into the pilings near the West Seattle Fauntleroy dock. It is reported that the vessel had veered off course and was coming in too fast at the time of the crash. One car was reported to be pinned inside the ferry after the top side section of the ferry crumpled from the impact.

The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the investigation along with the National Transportation Safety Board to find the cause of the crash. As is standard procedure in cases like this, all crew members were tested for drugs and alcohol. It is reported that those tests came back negative.

A narrow steel deck on the vessel called a “pickle fork” was destroyed during the crash. This is the part of the vessel that extends over the car deck, the place where many walk-on passengers stand for a great view, or to exit the vessel via an elevated walkway.