The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for the 44-year-old captain of the F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH, which sank Friday morning near the entrance to Grays Harbor. Three other individuals who were aboard the 68-foot vessel were rescued from the water by a U.S. Coast Guard boat crew.
The F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH issued a distress call around 8:15 a.m., reporting they were rapidly taking on water and onboard pumps were failing. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia watchstanders immediately broadcast an urgent marine information notice and dispatched rescue assets, including boat crews from Station Grays Harbor and an aircrew from Air Station Astoria.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a Good Samaritan vessel arrived shortly after the distress call and provided a dewatering pump. A Station Grays Harbor rescue crew arrived on scene at approximately 8:30 a.m. Just minutes later, the F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH sank. Three crew members wearing life jackets entered the water and were promptly rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard boat crew. The captain was reportedly still on board when the vessel went down near the Grays Harbor bar entrance.
The three rescued individuals were transported to Station Grays Harbor for evaluation by EMS. Two additional boat crews from Station Grays Harbor joined the search efforts, and the Air Station Astoria aircrew arrived overhead at 9:00 a.m. to commence search patterns.
The U.S. Coast Guard also requested assistance from a U.S. Navy dive team. A Navy helicopter from Air Station Whidbey Island transported the team to U.S. Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor, and U.S. Coast Guard boat crews then transported the divers to the scene. A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging vessel arrived and, by 11:45 a.m., successfully located the sunken vessel.
However, challenging environmental conditions hampered search efforts. Strong currents and poor visibility delayed the U.S. Navy dive team’s ability to access the wreck site until nearly 6:00 p.m. Ultimately, debris, limited visibility underwater, and powerful subsurface currents prevented the divers from entering the interior of the fishing vessel.
Following extensive search efforts involving multiple U.S. Coast Guard assets, the Navy dive team, and the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend the search for the missing captain.
“This is a tragedy for our fishing communities,” said Capt. Justin Noggle, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River. “I’m thankful our Coast Guard crews were able to save the three crewmembers quickly, and our hearts are with the family and friends of everyone impacted by this tremendous loss.”
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Ecology are collaborating to address potential pollution stemming from the sunken vessel. Authorities have stated that no shoreline impact has been reported at this time. A commercial salvage team from Seattle has arrived on scene and is currently formulating a plan for the vessel’s recovery. The F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH is located in roughly 40 feet of water, situated outside of the main navigable channel. Stevenson was a respected captain, and his wife, Jennifer, is a former president of the Newport Fishermen’s Wives.
We share our deepest sympathy, thoughts, and prayers with the family and friends during this time of tremendous grief.