Coast Guard Rescue

Published on: September 20, 2022

Crew Rescued after F/V Preamble Catches Fire

On Wednesday, September 14^th, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued 2 crewmembers (and one cat) after the 49-foot F/V PREAMBLE caught fire. The vessel was located approximately 57 miles west of Gold Beach, Oregon at the time of the incident. A Coast Guard Air Station North Bend MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew hoisted the crewmembers and the cat from their life raft.

As a backup, a Sector Humboldt Bay MH-65E aircrew was also launched and sent to the location, which arrived just after the North Bend aircrew rescued the survivors. Thanks to the fast action by the U.S. Coast Guard and a sound life raft, all were rescued.

As colder weather approaches, all fishers and crewmembers are urged to make certain that EPIRBs, survival suits, life rafts, and other safety gear are in proper working order. Every crewmember must be properly trained, and safety procedures should be rehearsed. While work at sea is inherently dangerous, risk can be mitigated when proper safety procedures are followed.

Published on: September 13, 2022

Coast Guard Rescues F/V Lodestar Crew

by Nigel Stacey

The 66-foot F/V LODESTAR was located about 180 miles off the coast of Coos Bay, Oregon when the vessel lost propulsion and required assistance. Winds were reported as approximately 40-knots with 8-to-10 foot waves while crewmembers were stranded in the stormy seas aboard the disabled vessel.

Watchstanders at the 13^th U.S. Coast Guard District command center in Seattle received the call for help at 9:21 p.m. on Friday, September 9^th.The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter STRATTON and crew were diverted, and the cutter arrived on the scene of the disabled fishing vessel at 1 p.m. on Saturday September 10^th.

The F/V LODESTAR was placed in tow, then rendezvoused with a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Coos Bay about 45 miles off the Oregon coast. The tow was transferred to the Motor Lifeboat, and the fishing vessel and rescued fishermen were safely transported to Charleston, Oregon.

Published on: February 15, 2022

Two Fishermen Rescued from Sinking F/V Glory

by Joseph Stacey

Two fishermen were rescued by the US Coast Guard on Monday February 7^th near Sitka, Alaska after the 40-foot F/V GLORY began taking on water.

Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders received a call from the distressed vessel at about 8 p.m. An Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew were launched and directed to the vessel at Islet Passage, approximately nine miles south of Sitka.

The US Coast Guard aircrew lowered a rescue swimmer onto the vessel to evaluate the situation. Crewmembers were unable to locate the source of the flooding, so it was advised that the fishermen abandon ship. US Coast Guard aircrew successfully hoisted the two fishermen at about 9 p.m.

Published on: November 15, 2021

F/V Julia Breeze Sinks, 4 Mariners Rescued

by Joseph Stacey

Four mariners were rescued from a raft on November 10, 2021, after they abandoned ship about 13 nautical miles west of Cape Ommaney, near the southern tip of Baranof Island, Alaska.

Watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau received a distress call at about 10:40 via VHF radio channel 16. Crewmembers reported that the V/F JULIA BREEZE was taking on water and that they were abandoning ship.

An Air Station Sitka helicopter crew was launched at 10:45 and arrived on the scene at about 11:40. The aircrew located a debris trail from the 53-foot fishing vessel as well as the survival raft. All four of the V/F JULIA BREEZE crew members were able to don survival suits and made it into the survival raft.

Published on: November 1, 2021

Four Rescued After F/V LAURA Runs Aground

by Nigel Stacey

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 ship.

An Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules aircrew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew were launched. Thanks to assistance from the good Samaritan F/V STILLWATER, the aircrews were able to quickly locate the fishermen. A Coast Guard helicopter crew deployed a rescue swimmer to hoist the crew-members from the sinking 90-foot F/V LAURA, and safely transported them to Air Station Kodiak.

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is that all crew members have proper safety equipment and training. For more information, read our post regarding the maintenance and testing of immersion suits.

Published on: September 21, 2021

F/V Royal Sinks off Oregon Coast

by Joseph Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a woman, two men, and their dog after the F/V ROYAL sank on Sunday, September 12, 2021, approximately forty-five miles off the coast of Lincoln City, Oregon.

Sector North Bend watchstanders received a distress signal via the vessel’s Electronic Position Indicting Radio Beacon (EPIRB) at 2 p.m. An urgent marine information broadcast was issued, and an Air Facility Newport rescue crew and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter was dispatched.

A debris field was located about six miles from the last EPIRB transmission location at 4 p.m. Thankfully, registration on the device was up to date on the 44-foot gray and blue commercial F/V ROYAL, and the crew was found adrift in a life raft.

Published on: September 7, 2021

Overdue F/V Stormie B Crewmember Rescued

by Joseph Stacey

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 out in an inflatable boat powered only by oars, was overdue. The master also reported that that they had searched the area for two hours without results.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was deployed from Air Station Kodiak as well as the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter NAUSHON, and the missing mariner was located. A rescue swimmer hoisted and safely transported the seafarer to a nearby cannery.

Published on: August 30, 2021

Four Rescued After F/V ENDURANCE Runs Aground

by Nigel Stacey

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 by U.S. Coast Guard 17th District command center in Juneau, Alaska and help was dispatched.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BERTHOLF was located approximately 30 miles northeast of the F/V ENDURANCE at the time of the call. The BERTHOLF crew launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a small boat to rescue the stranded seafarers.

Published on: May 4, 2021

Long-Range Medevac for Injured Mariner

by Joseph Stacey

In a heroic effort by the U.S. Coast Guard, a mariner was medevaced from the F/V VICIOUS CYCLE after sustaining a forearm injury. The vessel was located approximately 130-miles southwest of Kailua Kona, Hawaii at the time of the incident.

Sector Honolulu watchstanders received the call from a Good Samaritan at approximately 11:14AM on April 27^th, 2021, reporting that the master of the F/V VICIOUS CYCLE had sustained an injury.

Attempts were made to contact the vessel via radio, but the fishing boat was out of radio range. An Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules aircrew was launched and was able to make contact with the vessel. The Coast Guard duty flight surgeon was contacted, and based on the situation, recommended that the mariner be medevaced.

Published on: March 1, 2021

Crewmember Medevaced from F/V American Triumph

by Nigel Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced a woman from the F/V AMERICAN TRIUMPH on February 27th, 2021 after it was reported that she was suffering from symptoms consistent with an allergic reaction.

Watchstanders at the 17th District command center in Juneau received the call from Health Force Partners on behalf of F/V AMERICAN TRIUMPH at about 4 p.m. and directed the launch of a crew from Forward Operating Location Cold Bay. The vessel was located approximately 100 miles northwest of the Cold Bay location.

The 31-year old crewmember was hoisted by an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and transported to a LifeMed flight team in Cold Bay. She was then transported to a higher level of care in Anchorage.