On October 23, 2016, at 3:51 AM, Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a mayday call. It was Michael Carroll, 70-year-old captain of the 60-foot fishing vessel Pacific Rim, which had begun to sink under him outside the Westport Marina.
If this vessel name sounds familiar, it’s because back in 2012 it ran aground near Coos Bay, OR in the midst of a thick fog. This time, it hit a submerged object and began sinking.
Upon receiving the call that “the vessel was taking on water”, an MLB crew was promptly launched and reached Carroll at 4:15 AM, rescuing him onto a 47-foot Motor Life Boat. Next he was transferred to Westport Marina’s emergency medical services, then relocated to Grays Harbor Community Hospital with symptoms of hypothermia.
Consequently no one received any fatal injuries; however, the wreck dumped 250 gallons of diesel fuel into Grays Harbor, which elicited an investigation by the pollution response team from the Incident Management Division at Sector Columbia River.
The Pacific Rim remains in the water, partially submerged, floating southward with the tide.
Photo courtesy of the Coast Guard.