June 15, 2011

Coast Guard Assists Grounded Fishing Vessel JB In Grays Harbor, Wash.

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The Coast Guard assisted the 48-foot fishing vessel JB which ran aground on the south jetty of Grays Harbor, WA, at 1:45 a.m., Monday, June 6.

Upon receiving the distress call, Coast Guard Sector Columbia River coordinated the deployment of a Station Grays Harbor 25-foot response boat and 47-foot motor lifeboat crews, as well as an Air Station Astoria MH60 Jayhawk helicopter crew.

Continue reading "Coast Guard Assists Grounded Fishing Vessel JB In Grays Harbor, Wash." »

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

September 29, 2010

Crew Rescued from Grounded Vessel in Gastineau Channel, Alaska

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Crew Rescued from Grounded Vessel in Gastineau Channel, Alaska
The 34-foot fishing vessel PEGGE, a trawler based out of Pelican in Southeast Alaska, grounded in the Gastineau Channel near Juneau late Tuesday night. The Juneau-based Coast Guard command center received the initial notification of the grounding and arrived to the scene a mere twenty-five minutes later.

Fortunately, there were no injuries aboard, damage to the vessel or pollution. The three person crew stayed on board the vessel in an attempt to refloat the boat; their efforts proved to be unsuccessful. The crew was eventually removed from the fishing boat and is currently resting in Juneau. They plan to return to the vessel as soon as possible to try to refloat it again.

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

September 24, 2010

Coast Guard Responds to Barge Sinking on the North Slope, Alaska

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Coast Guard personnel responded to calls that a barge had grounded and partially submerged in nine feet of water while traveling across the Beaufort Sea. The barge was reportedly carrying more than 1,200 gallons of fuel. Initially, there were reports of sheen from the vessel, but the crew secured all fuel tanks and that sheen dispersed and is no longer visible. Response crews have encircled the grounded barge with containment boom to gather any sudden release of fuel as a precautionary measure.

Fortunately, the crew on board has been safely recovered and no personal injuries have been reported. The lawyers at Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP have handled a number of cases that deal with barge groundings and sinkings, other accidents that can occur on these boats, and the subsequent personal injuries the crew members have sustained. If you have a question about this article or any maritime injury, please call one of the lawyers at Beard Stacey & Jacobsen, LLP.

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

July 21, 2010

Alaska Fishing Vessel Issues Mayday - Crew of Polar Star Safe

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Tuesday, the 58-foot seiner POLAR STAR ran aground and began taking on water 65 miles west of Kodiak. The crew of the vessel issued a mayday message indicating the crew of five were abandoning ship into the vessel’s seine skiff. The Coast Guard responded to the emergency via helicopter. The crew planned to return to the vessel at high tide to see if they could refloat the vessel. The cause of the grounding was unknown. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were mild, with 23 knot winds and three-foot seas.

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

July 8, 2010

Tour Boat Accident in Boston Harbor – 174 Passengers Evacuated From Whale Watch Boat

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A Boston whale watch boat ran aground on a rocky ledge and began taking on water, forcing evacuation of 174 passengers and crewmen. The accident happened on July 3rd near Deer Island in Boston Harbor. The 87-foot long tour boat MASSACHUSETTS was reportedly traveling at 18 knots when it struck rocks at a place called Devil’s Back Ledge. The tour boat began to take on water and list with its bow down. Numerous vessels in the area assisted the Coast Guard in rescuing the passengers who were taken three miles to a pier in Hull. Remarkably, no serious injuries were noted at the time of the accident although the unexpected collision threw many passengers to the deck. The MASSACHUSETTS is owned by Massachusetts Bay Lines of Boston, which owns and operates harbor cruises and tours.
The accident is under investigation by the Coast Guard. Devil’s ledge/rock is a well known navigational hazard in Boston Harbor and it appears that navigational error will be the focus of the investigation. Even in well known and charted waters, vessel owners and tour operators must be fully ready to respond in case of a disaster.

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

June 14, 2010

Four Saved After Boat Runs Aground at Grays Harbor

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Four people were rescued from the Grays Harbor Jetty after their small pleasure boat ran aground Saturday. The Coast Guard responded to a May Day call from the vessel after it had run aground on the jetty. All four persons were able to safely make it to the jetty. The cause of the accident is unknown at this time. The vessel was able to be freed from the jetty and towed to Westport, Washington.

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

May 24, 2010

Container Ship Runs Aground in Columbia River

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A 648-foot container ship, the PACIFIC FLORES, has run aground in the Columbia River near Kalama, Washington. The ship reportedly ran aground on its port bow after losing steering. Two tug boats are on the scene and have been able to refloat the vessel that is carrying 600 tons of fuel. The forward tanks of the ship have been sounded and there appear to be no signs of leaking fuel at this time. No injuries were reported in the accident, and the accident is under investigation by the Coast Guard and Department of Ecology.


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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

April 20, 2010

Fishing Vessel Aground Near Huntington Beach, California

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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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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

February 1, 2010

OREGON RIVER BOAT RUNS AGROUND NEAR PORTLAND

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The Willamette Queen, an 87-foot-long sightseeing sternwheeler, has run aground near Oregon City. The incident happened around 5:30 P.M. on Sunday. There were no reported injuries to the 80 passengers on board the vessel. Two Coast Guard vessels and a tug responded to the accident and were able to free the Willamette Queen and tow it to Willamette Park in Portland.

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

August 27, 2009

Coast Guard Rescues Two From Grounded Vessel In San Juan Islands

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The Coast Guard has reported that on August 11, 2009 at approximately 11:00 p.m. the 87 foot Coast Guard Patrol Boat SEA LION was near Sucia Island State Park when it came across the 30 foot wooden recreational boat GYPSY grounded on some rocks. The Coast Guard station in Bellingham, WA dispatched a smaller cutter to rescue the owner and his passenger. No injuries have been reported.

According to the Coast Guard, the GYPSY was known to have 50 gallons of diesel fuel on board but no pollution has been identified.

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

March 6, 2009

CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE POLLUTION FROM GROUNDED ALASKA FISHING BOAT

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The Coast Guard is concerned over possible fuel leakage from the grounded fishing vessel, MAR GUN. The vessel went aground early yesterday morning on St. George Island. The five-member crew of the MAR GUN was rescued from the vessel by a United States Coast Guard helicopter. However, the grounded vessel is reportedly carrying 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and is near a fur seal and sea lion rookery; an island which is also home to one of the largest nesting colonies of sea birds in the Northern Hemisphere. Because of the sensitive nature of the environment, the Coast Guard has mobilized the National Strike Force’s Pacific Strike Force Team to respond to the threat of pollution, and they will reportedly be working to remove the fuel and lube oil from the vessel. They are anticipated to be on the scene late Friday afternoon. No pollution has been reported at this time. The MAR GUN crew transferred fuel to the vessel’s interior tanks prior to abandoning the vessel.

The MAR GUN is a 112-foot Seattle based trawler that fishes in the Bering Sea for pollock. The details of the cause of the grounding are unclear at this time, and the United States Coast Guard will be conducting further investigations.

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Posted In: Vessel Groundings

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