Washington State

Published on: October 18, 2016

Coast Guard Rescues 40 Port Angeles Middle School Students

Students and chaperones from Stevens Middle School in Port Angeles, Washington were rescued from Camp David Jr. on Crescent Lake by the U.S. Coast Guard on Friday, October 14^th. According to the Coast Guard, Sector Puget Sound received a call at approximately 3:45 p.m. reporting that 40 kids and 6 adults were stranded without power in a cabin at the popular Clallam County Camp. Due to high winds and fallen trees, David Junior Road was impassable by vehicle, blocking all access to U.S. Highway 101.

The Coast Guard responded quickly, assisted by deputies from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

“With that amount of kids there, and the fact that emergency services could only get to them by boat, the decision was made to go out there and boat them over before the major storm hit on Saturday,” said Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King.

Published on: October 10, 2016

Five Fishermen Rescued Near Grays Harbor, Washington

by Joseph Stacey

Five fishermen were rescued by the US Coast Guard on Friday, October 7^th, 2016 when a 56-foot commercial fishing vessel began taking on water. The Taplow was about 19 miles southwest of Grays Harbor, Washington when the Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received the distress call that the vessel was taking on water. The captain reported that the engine room was half flooded, and pumps had stopped working.

An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued and the Motor Lifeboat Invincible was dispatched, as well as a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew. The crew was directed to activate their Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon and put on immersion suits.

The Grays Harbor helicopter crew was first to arrive on the scene, delivering a pump and standing by until a second helicopter crew arrived. A rescue swimmer was deployed to assist with dewatering until the Motor Lifeboat Invincible and crew arrived. With the fishing vessel listing sideways, the MLB crew advised the fishermen aboard the Taplow to abandon ship.

Published on: August 19, 2016

Worker Rescued from Overturned Loader at Port of Seattle Waterfront

by Joseph Stacey

At around 10:30 a.m. at Terminal 46 on Alaskan Way South, a loader overturned, trapping the 50-year-old driver inside the cab. Seattle Fire Department responded by 11:00 a.m. and after about 15 minutes, the rescue was successful.

SFD reported that the man suffered minor injuries and was taken to Harborview Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.

Fire Capt. Shata Stephenson did not know how the incident occurred, though the loader appeared to have overturned and hurled the vehicle’s cab into the air while lifting a heavy load.

Published on: August 15, 2016

Hong Kong-Flagged Cargo Ship, ROSCO PALM, Grounds in the Columbia River

by Joseph Stacey

The 751-foot cargo vessel reportedly ran aground near Skamokawa, Washington at 7:49 p.m. on Friday evening. It then refloated, traveled a few miles upstream and grounded again while at anchor.

The Coast Guard conducted an overflight of the grounded motor vessel Friday night, and will arrange another as weather conditions permit.

As of 7:40 a.m. on Saturday, the vessel had refloated with the tide, leaving no indication of discharged pollution.

Published on: August 2, 2016

State Ferries Crew Member from Chimacum Honored for Life-Saving Action

by Joseph Stacey

John McMillen, who grew up in Chimacum, Washington, was honored on the M/V KENNEWICK as the ferry traveled between Port Townsend and Coupeville.

McMillen was given the Life Ring award for his role in saving a man’s life earlier this month. On July 17^th, McMillen used an automated external defibrillator on a 60-year old man who suffered a heart attack aboard a Bainbridge-bound ferry.

The crew acted quickly to help the man, and the captain rerouted the ferry back towards Seattle. This effort allowed the man to receive medical attention an hour sooner than he would have if the ferry continued to Bainbridge.

Published on: September 8, 2014

SALMON BAY OIL SPILL RESPONSE CONTINUES IN SEATTLE

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

On Labor Day 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard and Washington Department of Ecology received word that oil, as well as strong petroleum odors, had appeared in the Ballard Mill Marina on Salmon Bay. The Coast Guard and Department of Ecology have established a unified command to oversee the plan and cleanup of the spill. Funds from the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund were used to hire diving and salvage crews to assist in the cleanup.
At this time, no one has claimed responsibility for the spill, but scientists are taking samples of oil from the spill as well as vessels in the vicinity to help track down the source. While no reports of wildlife being affected have been made, the estimated amount spent on cleanup so far is close to $75,000, which is being financed from the trust fund. Anyone with any information on the investigation is encouraged to contact the Puget Sound Coast Guard Command Center.

Published on: December 3, 2013

The Washington State Maritime Cluster Economic Impact Study – Washington State Maritime Industry – $30 Billion in 2012 Revenues

by Lysander Johnson

Community Attributes, a Seattle-based research firm, has just released their “Washington State Maritime Cluster Economic Impact Study.” Maritime history in our region, most notably fishing and trade, began when the first people settled here many thousands of years ago, followed by European and American expansion, and since then, we’ve experienced an infusion of cultural influence from around the world, creating a background for success.

While there is no question that our maritime industry is deep-rooted and essential to the economy of Washington State, this past May, the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Seattle and King County issued their “Request for Proposals for a Maritime Industry Economic Impact and Cluster Analysis for the Puget Sound Region and Washington State” in order to collect and provide facts supporting the importance of maritime industry here.

The task of Community Attributes, which was awarded the research work, was to identify and assess the contributions of the maritime industry and its connections with the community, as well as its economic impact and growth potential based on qualified, quantifiable data. The study requirements included:
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Published on: June 26, 2010

Woman Killed On Seattle Construction Barge

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

A Seattle woman has been killed aboard a construction barge in Seattle. The woman’s relationship to the construction barge working in Seattle’s Elliott Bay is unknown. The death was reportedly the result of the woman being hit in the head by a crane on the barge. The barge was moored just south of Seattle’s downtown waterfront.

Workers aboard marine construction barges may be classified as Jones Act seamen. The legal status of an accident victim is critical to determine what compensation may available in the case of a wrongful death.

Published on: November 3, 2005

Coast Guard Medevacs Man with Severe Head Injury

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

Coast Guard Station Provincetown and Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod responded and medevaced a man on board the 67-foot fishing vessel Sao Jacinto, two- and-a-half miles west of race point near Provincetown, Mass.

The injured man on board the New Bedford, Ma. fishing vessel is Orlando Costa, 42. He suffered a severe head injury. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod is taking him to Massachusetts General Hospital. His condition is unknown. The rescue helicopter crew is scheduled to arrive at the hospital about 6:45 p.m. today

Source: Military.com, November 3, 2004