Coast Guard

Published on: September 30, 2025

Alaska Fisherman Dies Aboard Cod Vessel Near Aleutian Islands

A 27-year-old commercial fisherman died on September 3rd, 2025, following a workplace accident aboard a fishing vessel operating in the Aleutian Islands.

Alaska State Troopers identified the deceased fisherman as Baxter Cox. According to Alaska State Trooper spokesman Austin McDaniel, the fatal incident occurred at approximately 9:45 p.m. while Cox was working aboard the F/V HALCYON, a 58-foot commercial fishing vessel owned by Buck Laukitis.

The vessel was fishing for Pacific cod with pot gear approximately 20 miles north of Akutan Island when the incident occurred. It is reported that Cox was untangling rope attached to a steel cod pot when another piece of equipment struck him in the head, McDaniel stated. Cox reportedly died from his injuries as the vessel transited Unimak Pass, the narrow strait connecting the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska near Unalaska.

Published on: September 23, 2025

Tugboat Dominion Sinks in Bremerton Marina Prompting Major Environmental Response

by Nigel Stacey

The 130-foot TB DOMINION sank in Bremerton Marina on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, prompting an environmental response that has continued all week as crews work to contain diesel fuel contamination and assess ecological effects.

The Washington State Department of Ecology was notified of the sinking on Wednesday afternoon, and the U.S. Coast Guard immediately responded to the incident. On Thursday morning, response teams deployed an absorbent boom around the sunken tugboat to contain fuel leaking from the vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard set a safety zone from Manette Bridge extending 200 yards off the Bremerton Marina breakwater to the Bremerton Ferry Terminal. Non-commercial vessels were advised to avoid the area as U.S. Coast Guard vessels were actively maintaining this restricted area.

Published on: August 26, 2025

Meeting Fishing Vessel Safety Act Requirements: 2025-2026 Compliance Guide

by Nigel Stacey

Commercial fishing remains one of America’s most dangerous occupations, with fatality rates significantly higher than most other industries. The Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act, enacted following tragic losses at sea, establishes minimum safety requirements that can mean the difference between life and death. Here is a comprehensive guide for mariners to ensure compliance for 2025-2026.

Determine Your Vessel’s Classification

Establish which regulations apply to your operation. The Fishing Vessel Safety Act applies to commercial fishing vessels, with different requirements based on vessel size, operation area, and crew capacity. Documented vessels operating beyond the U.S. Boundary Line (the dividing point between internal and offshore waters) or carrying more than 16 persons face the most rigorous requirements, while smaller operations have modified standards. Check your vessel’s documentation and operating parameters against current U.S. Coast Guard classifications. This determines everything from equipment requirements to training obligations.

Published on: August 19, 2025

Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Fisherman

by Nigel Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search Wednesday afternoon for prominent West Coast fisherman Joel William Kawahara, recipient of the 2009 National Fishermen’s Highliner of the Year Award. Mr. Kawahara disappeared while fishing alone off the coasts of Oregon and Washington. The extensive search covered more than 2,100 square miles of ocean before being called off.

Mr. Kawahara, known throughout the West Coast for his work on the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, and Save Our Wild Salmon, was last heard from at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025, while aboard the F/V KAROLEE. He had departed alone the week prior for what appeared to be a routine fishing trip.

For several days following the last contact, the F/V KAROLEE continued traveling a constant southerly course at approximately 4 mph. Fellow fishermen spotted the vessel near the Columbia River bar and attempted to hail it by radio, receiving no response.

Published on: August 12, 2025

Coast Guard Announces Suspension of Search for Missing Crew Member Near Newport, Oregon

by Nigel Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard has officially suspended its search efforts for the missing fisherman off the coast of Newport, Oregon.

At 4 p.m. Sunday, August 10^th, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified that the 40-foot F/V DAS BUG had capsized in Yaquina Bay Jetty with four people aboard. A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew rescued three individuals and transferred them to emergency medical services. The individuals were then taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital and treated for hypothermia.

Crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay and Air Station North Bend searched for the missing person using a 47-foot lifeboat and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter in the evening. Additionally, an MH-65 Dolphin crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station North Bend conducted a search at first light. No evidence of the missing person was found before the search was suspended.

Published on: August 5, 2025

Titan Submersible Implosion Was “Preventable,” Says Final Coast Guard Report

by Nigel Stacey

On August 5, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation released its report on the Titan submersible loss. The sub imploded in June 2023 while on a dive to the Titanic, killing all five people on board.

The Report of Investigation (ROI), which is over 300 pages long, details the key findings and contributing factors that led to the incident. It also includes 17 safety recommendations. These recommendations are designed to improve oversight of submersible operations, enhance coordination among federal agencies, and address differences in international maritime policy.

Based on the U.S. Coast Guard report, OceanGate’s director of marine operations, who was responsible for crew and client safety, testified that the company ignored his safety concerns. He stated that the company prioritized “image and marketing” over building a safe and reliable operation.

Published on: July 29, 2025

Joint Medevac 180 Miles West of Astoria, Oregon

by Nigel Stacey

On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard medevaced a Canadian fisherman from his vessel approximately 180 miles off the coast of Astoria, Oregon.

The rescue operation began shortly after 1 a.m. when the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria, British Columbia, received an emergency call about a crew member experiencing a medical emergency about 300 miles west of Astoria. Victoria officials then notified the U.S. Coast Guard in Seattle.

After consulting with a flight surgeon who recommended a medevac, the U.S. Coast Guard maintained contact with the fishing vessel as it moved closer to shore. A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was dispatched. A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-295 Kingfisher from 19 Wing Comox provided crucial overhead support, including weather reporting and communications.

Published on: June 17, 2025

Morning Midas Still Ablaze Off Alaskan Coast

by Nigel Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard is actively working to extinguish a persistent fire aboard the car carrier MORNING MIDAS, located approximately 220 miles south of Adak, Alaska. The first salvage vessel has now reached the scene, joining the ongoing efforts.

The incident began on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, when smoke was detected on a deck full of electric vehicles. The MORNING MIDAS was transporting cargo from Yantai, China, to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, when the fire erupted. Despite the crew’s emergency response and the activation of onboard fire suppression systems, the blaze intensified, forcing all 22 crew members to abandon ship.

The crew evacuated via lifeboat and were subsequently rescued by the merchant vessel COSCO HELLAS. Currently, the tug vessel GRETCHEN DUNLAP is on site with salvage personnel working to assess the conditions.

Published on: May 20, 2025

Battling the Bering Sea: The High Stakes of Safety for Commercial Fishermen

by Nigel Stacey

Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, a significant part of the state’s economy, involves working in challenging marine environments. The pursuit of seafood means confronting hazardous conditions, which leads to injuries and fatalities each year. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Understanding the safety measures in place and the legal avenues available, such as the Jones Act, is important for those working at sea.

Working as a commercial fisherman in Alaska carries a greater risk of injury and death than many other jobs. Several factors contribute to these risks:

Challenging Weather and Icing: Alaska’s marine weather can change quickly. Sudden storms, strong winds, and large waves can make fishing difficult. Ice accumulating on vessels, particularly during colder seasons, can affect a boat’s stability.

Published on: April 15, 2025

Three Rescued after Scallop Boat Capsizes

by Nigel Stacey

On April 11, 2025, a commercial scallop boat capsized near Green Island in Boston Harbor. A swift rescue and a coordinated environmental response began after the vessel started leaking fuel into area waters.

At 7:46 a.m., watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston received a broken radio transmission from the F/V EILEEN RITA, a 90-foot vessel homeported in New Bedford, Massachusetts. They soon established communication with the captain, who confirmed the vessel had run aground on rocks near Green Island and was taking on water. The vessel began listing onto its side, prompting the three crew members to don survival suits and climb onto the gunwale, approximately 15 feet above the waterline while awaiting rescue.

Body camera footage released by police shows the crewmembers sliding down the side of the listing vessel and boarding a Boston Police boat. They were later evaluated by Boston EMS.