Maritime Injury Law Blog

Published on: August 15, 2016

Coast Guard Rescues 3 Fishermen from Sinking F/V McCALIS

At 11:54 a.m. on Sunday, August 14, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a mayday call from 60-foot F/V McCALIS about 8 miles west of Cape Blanco, Oregon. The crew reported that their vessel was taking on water through the fish hold and the dewatering pumps were not keeping up. The three fishermen aboard the vessel also announced their intention to abandon ship onto a liferaft.

The Coast Guard launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat Crew from Search and Rescue Detachment Coquille River and an aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. Both crews arrived to the scene around 1:15 p.m., but with only 300-feet of visibility due to fog, the boat crew picked up the fishermen from their liferaft.

The three fishermen aboard the McCALIS are reportedly uninjured, and en route to Station Coos Bay in Charleston, Oregon.

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 10, 2016

OPEN LETTER TO SURVIVORS OF ALASKA JURIS SINKING

by Joseph Stacey

The ALASKA JURIS, a fishing vessel owned by Fishing Company Of Alaska (FCA), started taking on water on July 26, 2016 while fishing off the Aleutian chain of islands. The captain sent out a mayday. The crew donned their survival suits, got into life rafts, and abandoned ship. No other vessel was in sight. After several hours floating in the open sea near Adak, good Samaritan vessels arrived at the scene to rescue the crew.

This is the same fishing company that owned and operated the ALASKA RANGER, a factory trawler that sank in March 2008. Five crew died in that sinking.

We understand FCA and its insurance company are now offering $20,000 to survivors of the ALASKA JURIS to settle any and all claims they may have as a result of the sinking ordeal. The offer comes with a written explanation. FCA and its insurance company compare the sinking of the RANGER to the sinking of the JURIS as justification as to why they are only offering $20,000 to settle.

Published on: August 5, 2016

3 Bodies Recovered from Lake Coeur d’Alene after Saturday Night Crash

by Joseph Stacey

Northern Idaho authorities have confirmed that the bodies of the 3 persons missing following the Saturday night boat collision have been recovered.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement late Wednesday that a dive team pulled the bodies from Lake Coeur d’Alene shortly after the crash.

Officials identified the dead as 34-year-old Justin M. Luhr of Medical Lake, Spokane County, 21-year-old Justin T. Honken of Post Falls, Idaho, and 21-year-old Caitlin A. Breeze of Spokane.

Published on: August 3, 2016

Coast Guard Medevacs Ailing Mariner from F/V UNIMAK near Dutch Harbor, AK

by Joseph Stacey

Coast Guard 17^th District watchstanders received a call Monday morning from Health Force Partners to report the deteriorating medical condition of a crewmember aboard F/V UNIMAK. After consulting the duty flight surgeon, the Coast Guard directed the launch of a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to the scene.

The man had been experiencing abdominal pain, headaches, and a fever for several days. His worsening condition prompted an immediate medevac. He was hoisted and transported to emergency medical services in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Ayd, District 17 command duty officer commented, “the aircrew’s readiness allowed the man to receive advanced medical care as quickly as possible.”

Published on: August 3, 2016

Coast Guard, Good Samaritans Rescue 18 Passengers on Whale-Watching M/V BIG RED

by Joseph Stacey

On the afternoon of Sunday, July 31, M/V BIG RED was traveling in Favorite Channel near Juneau, Alaska when it began taking on water. Watchstanders from coast Guard Sector Juneau received the distress call and issued an urgent marine information broadcast calling for assistance from nearby vessels. All persons aboard the 35-foot whale-watching vessel were rescued by Coast Guard and multiple Good Samaritan vessels.

The 16 passengers and 2 crewmembers were transferred onto M/V ST. HERMAN with the help of recreational vessel See You, and transported to Allen Marine Dock to await Coast Guard and medical personnel. One knee injury was reported.

Lt. Jennifer Ferreira, sector Juneau command duty officer, commended the BIG RED crew for their swift, decisive action to ensure that all passengers were handed life vests when the vessel began taking on water.

Published on: August 2, 2016

Unified Command Calls Off Search for F/V ALASKA JURIS

by Joseph Stacey

The Unified Command, made up of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), and the Fishing Company of Alaska (FCA), have called off the search for the sunken vessel. The JURIS is presumed to have sank in approximately 5,400 feet of water in the Bering Sea.

“We have searched and have not been able to locate the fishing vessel ALASKA JURIS,” said federal on-scene coordinator Lt. Todd Bagetis. The Unified Command as well as various state and federal agencies have ensured that this extensive search prioritized the safety of response personnel, the public, and integrity of the environment.

For three days, searches for the vessel were conducted by air and sea with the help of F/V ALASKA ENDEAVOR, salvage tug RESOLVE PIONEER, and Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules. Diesel sheen believed to be from the ALASKA JURIS was found in the search area, though the source is unconfirmed.

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: August 2, 2016

F/V OCEAN PEACE and SEAFISHER Reroute to Aid Sinking ALASKA JURIS

by Joseph Stacey

On the morning of Wednesday, July 27^th, crewmembers aboard OCEAN PEACE and SEAFISHER were focused on the harvest of Atka mackerel. Some 55 miles away, another trawler vessel, the ALASKA JURIS, was taking on water.

Upon receiving this distress call, the two vessels halted fishing and processing to begin the 6-hour journey to rescue the JURIS crew. All 46 crewmembers once aboard the JURIS were safely transported to the Aleutian Island port of Adak by Thursday evening.

“They said we got to go, and we’re on it,” said Todd Loomis, an official with Ocean Peace Inc., which operates the two factory trawlers.

Published on: July 27, 2016

F/V ALASKA JURIS, Owned by the Fishing Company of Alaska, Sinks in the Bering Sea; 46 Crewmembers Rescued

by Joseph Stacey

At around 11:30am on Tuesday, July 26, Coast Guard 17^th District watchstanders received an electronic position alert from fishing vessel ALASKA JURIS. The vessel had been traveling in the Bering Sea near Alaska’s Aleutian Island chain, 150 miles northwest of Adak when it began taking on water. Coast Guard contacted the crew directly, confirming that the 220-foot vessel was in distress, and all 46 crewmembers had begun donning survival suits and boarding the three life rafts.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast to surrounding vessels, and sent a Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane and two Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters to the scene. Vessels Spar Canis, Vienna Express, Seafisher, and Ocean Pease diverted to assist. Seas were calm at the time of rescue, though heavy fog presented poor visibility. ALASKA JURIS crewmembers boarded Good Samaritan vessels around 5:00pm, and began the 13-hour voyage to Adak, AK.

Lt. Joseph Schlosser of the U.S. Coast Guard reported to the Alaska Dispatch News that preliminary information suggests the sinking could be tied to mechanical problems in the ship’s engine room. Definitive cause remains under investigation. There are no reports of injuries.