Articles Posted in Vessel Sinkings

Three crewman were rescued Tuesday from the 38 foot fishing vessel MANATEE. The vessel began taking on water near the entrance to Coos Bay, Oregon. The United States Coast Guard sent a 47 foot motor life boat to rescue the crewmen. The vessel reportedly sank and an investigation into the cause of the sinking and salvage efforts are underway. Records indicate the MANATEE was built in 1941 and is owned by William Merrit. There are no reported injuries at this time.

The Coos Bay bar entrance is notoriously dangerous in heavy seas and high tides. Studies by the National Transportation and Safety Bureau have identified the Oregon Coast Crab fishery as the most dangerous fishery on the West Coast. Tragedy appears to have been diverted in this case, but safety precautions must be followed at all times to prevent seamen and fishermen lives from being lost.

A vessel accident has left one person dead and three others injured when their 18 foot May-Craft vessel capsized approximately one mile east of Fort Monroe according to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard, Norfolk Fire Department and two Good Samaritan vessels responded to the capsizing. Four people were rescued from the water and transported to the Hospital. However, one person has died as a result of his injuries.

There is no indication as to the cause of the capsizing.

The Coast Guard has reported that a capsized vessel has claimed the life of one fisherman near the Coronado Islands, Mexico. The unidentified 30 foot fishing vessel capsized with a crew of five individuals. Two of the crewmember swam to shore and the other two were picked up by Good Samaritan vessel CONNIE SEA.

The Coast Guard, Harbor Police, Life Guards, and the Mexican Navy all assisted in the search for the missing crewmember. Harbor Police divers discovered the body of the missing crewmember aboard the capsized vessel. The four rescued crewmembers were reported to be found in good condition.

The cause of the capsizing is under investigation.

The Coast Guard has reported that it has rescued six people from a recreational vessel that capsized in the Gulf of Mexico. Acoording to Coast Guard reports, the body of a seventh person was located in the pilot house of the vessel and turned over to authorities for identification and notification to next of kin.

The Coast Guard stated that it received a report at 3:30 p.m. from the captain of the vessel the FIGHTING CHICKEN, a 21 foot offshore supply vessel, that the recreational vessel had capsized. The Coast Guard immediately dispatched the 87 foot cutter COHO, an MH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter, and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry rescue plane to assist in a search and rescue.

The FIGHTING CHICKEN rescued four of the people and turned them over to the COHO. The Coast Guard Helicopter rescued two additional people found on a nearby oil rig. The condition of the survivors is unknown.

Three fishermen were saved by the United States Coast Guard after their vessel capsized three miles southeast of Hilo. The fishermen were, luckily, able to retrieve a working cell phone from the vessel and hail a distress call to 911 around 1 a.m. on Wednesday July 15th. Two Coast Guard air crews were immediately dispatched to the location. By the time the fishermen were found, they had drifted 12 miles south of Hilo. All three were safely retrieved and transferred to a Hawaii county emergency medical service team, where they were reported to be in good condition. Charles Turner, a Coast Guard search and rescue coordinator, revealed how lucky it was to reach them via cell phone. “It [the cell phone] probably saved their lives… this case could have turned out a lot worse.”
The maritime lawyers at Beard Stacey Trueb and Jacobsen represent injured mariners throughout the nation in claims involving the Jones Act and General Maritime Law. For any questions regarding maritime law or injuries sustained while working aboard a vessel, contact us at 206.282.3100 or visit our website at atsealawyer.com.

Four crewmen from the ICY MIST have been rescued from their sinking vessel by the United States Coast Guard. The ICY MIST reportedly began taking on water early Wednesday morning, and issued a Mayday call that was relayed to the Coast Guard by other nearby fishing vessels. The ICY MIST went aground on the western shore of Akutan Island. Weather conditions were severe with winds reaching up to 120 mph. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk rescued the crewmen, who were able to make it ashore and climb shore-side cliffs so the Coast Guard helicopter could safely hoist them up. Reported rescued from the vessel are: Dan Oliver; Clint Packer; Kevin Fisner; and Terry Meyer. There was no reported known cause of the vessel distress, and the Coast Guard will be investigating the cause of the accident.

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 immediately sent to the area where the alarm indicated. Ships in the area were also notified of the situation taking place onboard. Those crewmen not trained in fire control immediately donned survival suits, and were the first ones evacuated from the vessel.

Within 45 minutes of the fire alarm it became obvious that progress was not being made with the fire. First mate Rotset then contacted the Coast Guard who diverted USCG Cutter Alex Haley to the fire, but it would not arrive for another five hours. Fortunately for the Pacific Glacier, there were more than a dozen ships in the area waiting to help, and they began by evacuating the 90 crew who were not trained to fight fires. Additionally, they provided firefighters and equipment. Without this help, the Pacific Glacier would have quickly used up the breathing equipment they had onboard, greatly falling short of the time they needed to get the fire under control. Without the additional equipment and firefighters, the vessel surely would have been a complete loss.

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 Island.

Mike and Vern were on their way from Juneau to Ketchikan at the time of the incident. The search was officially called off on February 28th, 2008.

Source: USGC Press Release

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 be carrying 1300 gallons of fuel when it went down.

A day or two earlier the Joe Foss began taking on water near Neah Bay, Washington and was escorted by the Coast Guard into La Push, WA for repairs.

Source: USCG

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 to remove the fuel at the time due to conditions. Sonar was later used to try and locate the sunken boat, as it appeared to have drifted from it’s known location. The vessel has not yet been found, and no signs of a diesel spill have been reported.

Source: USCG