In August of 2020, multiple U.S. Coast Guard units received distress calls stating that the F/V ARCTIC FOX II, a 66-foot commercial fishing boat, had begun taking on water. The vessel was located about 85 miles off Cape Flattery, Washington at the time of trouble. The three crewmembers aboard were…
Articles Posted in Maritime Safety
U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 7 from Disabled Tug
On Saturday January 14th, 2022, The U.S. Coast Guard rescued seven people after a 1,000-foot towing line snapped and the tug they were piloting became disabled. The incident happened about 30 miles off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland at approximately 3:30 a.m. Crew members aboard the tug LEGACY were…
America’s Finest Crewmember Suffers Serious Foot Injuries
Watchstanders at the 17th Coast Guard District command center in Juneau, AK received a medevac request after a crewmember aboard the 262-foot fish processor AMERICA’S FINEST suffered serious foot injuries. The request is reported to have come from the vessel’s master at approximately 2:30am on Thursday, March 17th. The vessel…
What is a Maritime Lawyer?
People often believe that all attorneys know all the laws of the land. Just as you would go to a trained cardiologist for heart issues or a radiologist to diagnose a broken bone, there are many types of lawyers who are versed in many types of law. It is always…
Four Rescued After F/V LAURA Runs Aground
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received a distress call from the master of the F/V LAURA on Monday, November 1, 2021, after the vessel reportedly ran aground on the shore at Black Rock, on Kodiak Island. It was also reported that the crew was using life rafts to abandon…
Injured Fisherman Medevaced from F/V Patricia Lee
An injured fisherman was medevaced from a fishing boat on 10/19/2021 after sustaining serious injuries to his pelvic region. It is reported that the crewmember became pinned by a crab pot while working on deck. The F/V PATRICIA LEE was located about 225 miles west of Dutch Harbor at the…
How to Survive an Overboard Fall
Between 2000 and 2014, overboard falls were the second leading cause of death among commercial fishermen in the United States. Of the 210 who died from falling overboard, not one of the victims was wearing a PFD (Personal Flotation Device). What was the leading cause of death among commercial fishermen?…
Overdue F/V Stormie B Crewmember Rescued
An overdue crewmember was rescued on Friday, September 3rd, near Lazy Bay on Kodiak Island after failing to return to the F/V STORMIE B. The master of the F/V STORMIE B called watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center to report that a crewmember, who had set…
Four Rescued After F/V ENDURANCE Runs Aground
Four people were rescued on August 25th after their fishing vessel ran aground near Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The F/V ENDURANCE crew made an emergency satellite phone call to watchstanders at approximately 10:57pm, reporting that the vessel had run aground, was listing severely, and taking on water. The call was received…
Three Rescued from Burning Vessel Near Port Angeles, WA
At approximately 6 p.m. on May 5th, watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a distress call reporting that a 48-foot vessel was on fire just off the shore of Port Angeles, WA. The three men aboard the vessel were unable to extinguish the flames. An Air Station…