Death at Sea

Published on: July 16, 2026

Coast Guard Suspends Search for Three After Cabin Cruiser Capsizes Near Alcatraz

It is with great sadness that we report on a gathering that turned tragic Tuesday, July 14th, 2026,when a 49-foot, three-deck cabin cruiser capsized and sank near Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay. The vessel, carrying 20 family members and friends who had gathered to scatter the ashes of a loved one, was struck by a wave, took on water, and rolled over before sinking. One person died after being pulled from the water, and 16 others were rescued. Three people remain missing after the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search Wednesday evening, July 15th, 2026, following an effort that covered more than 814 square miles.

Before emergency crews could arrive, two commercial fishermen who happened to be in the area became the first rescuers on the scene. The fishermen noticed something unusual on the water in the distance, but by the time they reached the vessel, it was half submerged, with passengers in the water and others trapped inside the cabin. The two men pulled many people to safety and worked to keep those in the water afloat and calm as they searched for others.

Their quick action is a powerful reminder of how often boaters and fishermen step in during the critical minutes before rescue crews can respond and how important it is to always be prepared.

Published on: April 28, 2026

Six Missing After Cargo Vessel Mariana Capsizes in Typhoon Sinlaku

by Nigel Stacey

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, watchstanders at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a report from the vessel manager of the M/V MARIANA, a 145-foot U.S. registered dry cargo ship that regularly transports goods between Guam, Tinian, and Saipan. The vessel’s starboard engine was disabled while carrying six people, leaving it stranded approximately 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan. The crew reported the disabled engine just as Typhoon Sinlaku approached the region.

The U.S. Coast Guard established an hourly communication schedule with the M/V MARIANA through the vessel’s manager. On Wednesday evening, communications went silent, and contact was never reestablished.

On Thursday morning, a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew launched from Guam to search for the vessel but were forced to return to Guam due to heavy winds in the search area. That same day, Super Typhoon Sinlaku made landfall on the island of Tinian with sustained winds of 145 mph and torrential rain. The storm pummeled the region for roughly 48 hours. On Saipan, it triggered flooding, tore roofs from buildings, and overturned vehicles. More than 15,000 residents lost power. The Northern Marianas government requested an expedited federal disaster declaration.

Published on: March 18, 2026

Two Killed in Confined Space Incident Aboard Barge Near Ketchikan

by Nigel Stacey

It is with great sadness that we report the deaths of two maritime workers following a fatal confined space incident aboard the freight barge WAYNEHOE, moored approximately 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan, Alaska, near Skowl Arm on Prince of Wales Island.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska in Juneau received a mayday call at 9:14 a.m. on Sunday reporting that the crew of the tug vessel CHUKCHI SEA had lost contact with four crewmembers inside a confined space aboard the barge. The tug and barge are owned by Hamilton Marine Construction, a Bellingham, Washington-based company.

The U.S. Coast Guard directed the launch of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Ketchikan, with members of the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department aboard, to respond to the incident. While en route, the crew of the CHUKCHI SEA recovered one deceased crewmember and assisted two survivors out of the confined space.