Maritime Injury Law Blog

The Coast Guard in San Francisco received a distress call from the crew of the 31-foot commercial fishing vessel TWO SONS, Wednesday, July 20, about eight miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge. Reports informed the Coast Guard that the vessel was taking on water with two people on board. The boat operator reported that the rate of flooding far exceeded the rate at which the crew could discharge the water from the vessel using the onboard dewatering equipment.

Sector San Francisco launched a helicopter rescue crew, a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat, and the Coast Guard Cutter TERN to assist the distressed fishing vessel. The TERN arrived on the scene and placed two of their own crewmembers onboard the TWO SONS, along with more dewatering equipment. The crewmembers were able to get one dewatering pump started, and succeeded in completely dewatering the vessel.

Boaters should not hesitate to call for help in times of need or danger, and ought to have safety equipment such as life jackets, flares, and safety whistles that can help expedite Coast Guard response in the event of an emergency.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 4:20 PM | Permalink

The Coast Guard in Boston was notified Tuesday, July 12 by the crew of the stern trawler CAPTAIN MARK that a crewman required assistance for an arm laceration 54 miles east of Merrimack River. A Coast Guard Station Gloucester rescue boat and crew responded to the call.

Medical personnel assessed the injured crewman, then transferred him to the Coast Guard rescue boat where he was safely taken to Gloucester Harbor. The crew was met at shore by local emergency medical services for transport to a hospital. Due to the laceration and blood loss, officials were worried that the crewman might lose the limb. Published reports do not indicate what caused the laceration, and the fisherman’s condition at this time is unknown.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 4:14 PM | Permalink

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received an alert from an emergency beacon registered to the PENNY V Friday, July 8, after the 68-foot fishing vessel began to take on water west of Sanibel Island, FL. The Coast Guard diverted the crew of the 210-foot Coast Guard Cutter RESOLUTE to the scene to assist the distressed crew.

Once on the scene, the Coast Guard rescue crew assisted with dewatering pumps and flooding control, allowing the PENNY V to get underway under its own power. The Coast Guard then escorted the crew of the PENNY V back to home port in Fort Myers, FL.

All five crewmen of the PENNY V were in good condition. Coast Guard officials took the opportunity to stress the importance of having an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon on board.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 11:43 AM | Permalink

One man is dead and another is seriously injured after the vessel they were traveling in capsized Saturday, July 16, in outer Boston Harbor, Mass. According to State Police spokesman David Procopio, the 30-foot vessel HIGH LIFE “broke apart and capsized for reasons still under investigation,” launching both passengers into the water. Neither passenger was wearing a life jacket. The boaters were identified as Michael Spirito, 58, and Robert Fox, 63.

Coast Guard Sector Boston was notified of the capsizing around 6:15 Saturday evening, and responded to the call immediately, along with the Boston Fire Department, the State Police, and the Environmental Police. The victims, who had severe chest and head injuries, were pulled from the water and taken to shore where emergency medical services were waiting. Spirito had been pronounced dead, and Fox was rushed to a Boston area hospital by a helicopter crew for his life-threatening injuries. Fox was listed in critical condition as of Monday, July 18.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 11:38 AM | Permalink

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received notification Tuesday July 12, that the 36-foot fishing vessel LOONEY TUNA was taking on water and had capsized. Three of the six on board reportedly suffered injuries. The Coast Guard launched two helicopter rescue crews and one boat crew to the scene, where they successfully hoisted the three injured fishermen and transported them to a nearby hospital. The rescue boat and crew safely transported the other three fishermen to shore, where emergency medical services awaited their arrival.

The Coast Guard stresses the importance of having marine-band radios, emergency position indicating radio beacons, life jackets and signaling devices on board. Having this sort of equipment on board allowed the crew of the LOONEY TUNA to make a call requesting help.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 5:10 PM | Permalink

Despite warming air temperatures in the summer months, summer water temperatures in Washington State average just 55 degrees. These low water temperatures carry a high risk of hypothermia and drowning. As the human body enters cold water, it becomes shocked. The body instinctively gasps for air, increasing the danger of swallowing too much water which may lead to drowning. Blood pressure and heart rate also greatly increase as the body is shocked. This can trigger panic, hyperventilation and cardiac arrest. Furthermore, in this state of shock, the human body naturally takes blood flow from the arms and legs and puts it to the core to warm the center of the body, which poses risks of muscle failure and inability to swim. The Coast Guard reminds all boaters of these very real risks, and urges boaters to take caution during the busiest months on the water. It is essential to realize that the dangers of the cold water exist even in the otherwise warm weather.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 5:08 PM | Permalink

The 36-foot fishing vessel ICE MAIDEN capsized Sunday, July 3 in the Prince William Sound off Rocky Point, Alaska. Reports say the vessel capsized while hauling in a net full of salmon. Good Samaritan fishing vessels NEW VENTURE and AQUANATOR were fishing in the area and provided assistance and transported the crew to nearby Cordova. ICE MAIDEN then sank and came to rest on the seafloor in 35 to 45 feet of water, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jason Boyle.

A salvage company, R&R Diving Services is contracted to carry out pollution response and salvage of the vessel. The company worked early Thursday, July 7, to commence salvage operations and try to raise and dewater the vessel.

Unfortunately, equipment on the salvage barge malfunctioned, and the ICE MAIDEN sank again, this time to a depth of about 180 feet, according to the Coast Guard. Boyle declined to name the specific piece of equipment that failed, but said that the cause of the malfunctioning is under investigation.

No injuries were reported in the initial sinking or from the salvage attempt. A light amount of diesel was spotted Thursday after the incident, and the salvagers are working to clean it up. Meanwhile, Boyle reported the Coast Guard is working with the salvagers to develop a new salvage plan.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 4:48 PM | Permalink

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders were notified that a crewman aboard the 32-foot fishing vessel MISS MARIA was suffering from a severely broken forearm, Friday, July 1.

The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter crew to the scene, and safely hoisted the 56-year-old fisherman and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services in Kodiak. It was determined that the fisherman suffered a double compound fracture to his right forearm. Published reports do not indicate the cause of his injury. The fisherman was taken to Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center in reportedly stable condition.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 2:27 PM | Permalink

Watchstanders from Coast Guard District Seventeen received notification Thursday, July 7, that Anthony Imas, 50, was injured and required medical assistance. Imas was reportedly suffering from severe back pain after falling aboard the 50-foot fishing vessel HEIDI LINEA.

The Coast Guard directed the launch of a helicopter rescue crew, which arrived on the scene and safely hoisted Imas off the vessel. Coast Guard reports indicate that Imas was in stable condition as of 9:45 Thursday night. Emergency medical services were waiting for Imas’ arrival in Kodiak, where he was taken to Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center for further care.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 2:11 PM | Permalink

Three men and two women were thrown from their 19-foot boat after it took a wave over the bow in Lake Ontario on Monday, July 4. A member of the Coast Guard Reserve witnessed the event and called the Coast Guard Station Rochester to notify the crew of the accident. The Coast Guard deployed a 25-foot response boat to the scene, and the crewmen brought all five people out of the water.

Although there were five life jackets aboard the vessel, none of the passengers were wearing one at the time of the accident. Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Owings took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of wearing life jackets rather than simply having them aboard. People rarely have enough time to put on a life jacket when an accident like this occurs.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 3:38 PM | Permalink

The Coast Guard medically evacuated fishermen Alvin Floyd and John Hodges from a 23-foot commercial fishing vessel on the south end of St. Catherines Island on Wednesday, June 22, following an explosion onboard. Operational watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received reports of the explosion and deployed two rescue helicopter crews. A good Samaritan rescued the fishermen from the water and waited until the rescue crews arrived. The Coast Guard crews safely transported the fishermen to Savannah Memorial Hospital.

The cause of the explosion is unknown. The commercial fishing vessel reportedly sunk approximately 1,000 feet off shore.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 3:35 PM | Permalink

Coast Guard Sector Charleston was notified Thursday, June 30 by Alan Carl, 45, asking for medical assistance after sustaining an injury while fishing around the mouth of the North Santee River near Georgetown, SC. Officials said the man’s arm was severed at the shoulder, possibly by the winch on board the shrimp boat. A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Facility Charleston arrived on scene and transported Carl to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Carl was listed in fair condition on Friday, July 1.

Posted by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP at 3:26 PM | Permalink