Oregon

Published on: September 12, 2013

285-Foot Tidewater Grain Barge Loose on the Columbia River

At approximately 10:00 p.m. on Friday, Tidewater Barge Lines reported to the Coast Guard than an unmanned 285-foot grain barge was missing from their Hayden Island facility. Crewmembers of the tug LORI B located the barge floating near the navigation channel and towed it back to Tidewater’s facility.

Upon inspection of the barge’s mooring lines, the Tidewater Barge Lines employee who made the initial report indicated that the mooring cable for the barge was not cut, and the ratchets used to hold it in place appeared to have been intentionally loosened. This incident could have resulted in a major shipping disaster. Either intentionally or negligently failing to secure a barge of this size on the Columbia River could have led to a major casualty. The incident is under investigation by the Coast Guard, and persons with information relating to the incident are asked to contact the Coast Guard Columbia River Command Center at 503-861-6211.

The Tidewater Barge Lines web site indicates that Tidewater Barge Lines is the largest inland marine transportation company west of the Mississippi River. Tidewater Barge Lines provides connections for truck, rail, and waterborne freight throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, their operating area includes 465 miles on the Columbia and Snake River systems extending from the Port of Astoria, Oregon, to the Port of Lewiston, Idaho.

Published on: March 22, 2006

Boat Collision in Tillamook Bay, Oregon

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

SEATTLE – The Coast Guard is investigating the collision of a fishing boat with several vessels and a pier in Tillamook Bay, Ore., that occurred Thursday evening. The fishing vessel Swell Rider, a 73-foot commercial fishing vessel, collided with the vessels and pier while attempting to navigate to its moorage in the harbor.

Personnel from Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay boarded the vessel and performed an inspection. Inspections after a search and rescue case or marine accident are a normal procedure.

No injuries or pollution were reported but the pier suffered extensive damage. Further assessment of all vessels involved will continue to determine the full extent of damage. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The master of the vessel is fully cooperating with Coast Guard officials.
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Published on: February 24, 2006

Sinking of Crab Boat at Tillamook Bar May Be Due to Jetty Miscalculation

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

At 1:30 am on February 7, 2006, the Coast Guard received a VHF call. Two red flares were spotted near Tillamook Bay, Oregon. A Jayhawk helicopter and two 47-foot motor lifeboats were dispatched to the area.

Debris was found identifying the vessel as the Catherine M., a 45-foot crabber whose homeport was Warrenton, Oregon. The body of Jeff King, 30, of Garibaldi, was also found on a nearby beach by a local rescue team, along with a life raft and three survival suits. The bodies of Trona Griffin 30, of Garibaldi, Oregon, and Craig Larson, 31, of Hammond, Oregon, washed ashore in the days following.

The last contact from the crew came the night before the incident, when Craig Larson’s wife spoke to him by phone. She was told the boat was returning to port with around 1,200 pounds of crab.
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