Boat on the sea
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A fisherman from the 88-foot fishing vessel KAYLA ROSE has been airlifted for medical treatment. The fisherman reportedly injured his arm and was slipping in and out of consciousness, and the crew of the vessel called the Coast Guard for emergency evacuation. The man was taken to Atlantic Regional Medical Center in New Jersey for treatment of his injuries. The circumstances of how the fisherman was injured are unknown at this time.

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A warrant was issued by King County Court for the arrest of Deadliest Catch crewman Jake Harris. One of the stars of the television series about crab fishing in Alaska, Harris, failed to appear in Seattle Court on Wednesday for a hearing related to charges of reckless driving. Previous charges of DUI and hit and run had been dropped against Harris. The lawyer for Harris told reporters for People magazine that the failure to appear for the hearing was a scheduling mistake by Harris. Harris contests the charges against him.

It is important for crewmen on all fishing vessels to clear up any pending legal matters before departing for the fishing season. Failure to appear for trials and hearings can result in arrest warrants being issued and additional charges.

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Saturday, a tank barge reportedly exploded at the LBC tank Terminals near Sunshine, Louisiana. Early investigation indicates the barge was loading benzene at the time of the accident. The Iberville Parish Fire department responded to the explosion and was able to bring the fire under control. Two workers were stated to have been injured in the explosion; the extent of injuries are unknown. The Coast Guard will be investigating the cause of the explosion. Water traffic remains open on the river.

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The 102-foot fishing vessel MUIR MILACH has been involved in an oil spill in Squalicum Marina. An estimated 50 gallons of diesel oil were spilled during transfer operations at the Sawtooth dock in Bellingham. A sheen of oil 100-200 yards long was on the water in the marina. Clean up efforts are underway. The Department of ecology warns that one quart of oil has the potential to foul more than 100,000 gallons of water. The MUIR MILACH was involved in a previous oil spill in 2007. The vessel was reportedly fined $7,500 for that incident.

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The exact number of workers missing after an oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico remains uncertain. As many as 15 workers were missing after the oil rig exploded 52 miles off the Louisiana Coast. Hope remains that the missing crewmen may be in a life raft. A number of crewmen were critically injured and transported to Baton Rouge for treatment of burn injuries. The oil platform that remains leaning and burning is reportedly owned by Transocean and is being leased to BP.

Crewmen on many oil rigs and oil platforms are covered by Federal Maritime law. Investigation into this tragic accident will be extensive.

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A 23 year old crewman with internal bleeding has been airlifted from the fish processing vessel SEA FISHER. The 230-foot long fishing vessel was about 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor at the time of the incident. A Coast Guard helicopter from Cold Bay was to take the crewman to Dutch Harbor for treatment and evaluation.

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The NORTHERN BELLE crew issued a Mayday call to the Coast Guard at 5:30 p.m. yesterday indicating they were was in trouble and needed help. The crew dawned survival suits but were unable to get into the vessel’s life raft. The Coast Guard arrived on the scene at approximately 8:00 p.m. and pulled all four crewmen from the water. One crewman was pronounced dead upon arrival in Cordova.

The Northern Belle is a 75-foot fishing vessel reportedly owned by Triton Inc. The vessel is home ported in Seattle. The accident happened in the Gulf of Alaska near Prince William Sound. The identities of the surviving crewmen have not yet been released. The casualty will be investigated by the Coast Guard.

Few safety regulations are in place to protect fishing vessel crewmen. Most safety regulations governing small commercial fishing vessels relate to survival equipment rather than preventing accidents from happening. In cases involving injuries and deaths of crewmen on fishing vessels, compensation may be paid under the Jones Act and the Death on the High Seas Act.

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The PACIFIC BULLY, a 58-foot fishing vessel, has reportedly gone aground near Huntington Beach, California. The four crewmen aboard the vessel are all reported safe. A salvage contractor has been hired to remove the wreck and prevent the threat of pollution. The cause of the accident is currently unknown and under investigation.

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Westward Seafoods Inc., a Dutch Harbor seafood processing plant has agreed to pay a $570,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act occurring between 2002 and 2006. The EPA complaint against Westward Seafoods alleged improper use and reporting regarding the burning of 1.3 million gallons of diesel fuel and use of 80,000 pounds of ammonia. Under the terms of the settlement, Westward Seafoods will be required to create a preventive maintenance and operation plan, develop and implement an annual training plan for its employees, and develop internal plans for reporting to the federal and local environmental agencies. A spokesman for the EPA stated, “We expect companies that handle hazardous chemicals and operate diesel generators to comply with the law. This settlement is designed to put a system into place that will prevent future violations of the environment and public safety laws.”

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Thursday the Pacific Fisheries Management Council adopted a commercial 2010 Chinook salmon seasons for the Washington and Oregon Coasts. Under the proposal, commercial fishermen will be able to harvest 56,000 Chinook salmon north of Cape Falcon and 13,000 marked hatchery Coho. Recreational fishermen will also share in the openings which provide for a total allowable catch of 117,000 Chinook and 80,000 marked hatchery Coho. The limits reflect a higher rate of return for Chinook salmon, while the Coho season is projected to be a down year. Oregon commercial fishermen have not been permitted to harvest Chinook since 2007. The proposal calls for very limited harvest south of Cape Falcon. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council’s decision still needs final approval by NOAA, which is anticipated on May 1st.

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