Maritime News

Published on: June 10, 2025

Tragedy at Sea: Surviving Two Weeks Adrift After Fishing Vessel Sinks

Alec Frydman was a young man pursuing a new path in life when he signed on for his first trip aboard a commercial fishing vessel. Tragically, that first voyage turned into a nightmare. In his powerful first-person account published in The Atlantic (June 2025), Alec recounts a violent storm that sank the fishing vessel, claiming the life of the captain and leaving Alec alone in a life raft for 14 days. He was the sole survivor. His harrowing story of survival has drawn national attention—and ultimately led him to seek legal counsel from maritime attorney and partner Nigel Stacey of Stacey and Jacobsen, PLLC.

Without warning, Frydman found himself alone, dehydrated, and without working emergency equipment. He survived through prayer, mental discipline, grit, and sheer willpower. His experience underscores the hazards encountered by maritime workers and emphasizes the necessity for well maintained, operational safety equipment.

Many survival tales share common themes of endurance, resilience, and the thin line between hope and despair. Alec’s account stands out for its emotional depth and clarity. Drifting without food, water, or contact, he entered what he describes as a “liminal” state, cut off from past and future, afloat in the terrifying now.

Published on: June 3, 2025

Seattle’s Expanding Maritime Sector

by Nigel Stacey

The maritime industry in Washington state, particularly within the Puget Sound region, is a thriving sector that offers diverse career opportunities both on shore and at sea. This part of the state’s economy contributed more than $45.9 billion in 2022 and provided more than 174,300 jobs.

These maritime professions are often financially rewarding, providing substantial wages. The average annual compensation for maritime workers in Washington state, including benefits, is estimated at $112,000. Even entry-level union positions can range from $55,000 to $140,000, highlighting the earning potential in this field.

To sustain this growth, there’s a strong focus on workforce development. Seattle is strategically positioning itself as a global hub for the maritime and clean energy economy, highlighting its commitment to future growth and innovation.

Published on: May 14, 2025

Empowering Alaska Fishermen Through Insurance Cooperatives

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

House Bill 116 is currently under consideration by the Alaska State Senate, representing a potential turning point for the state’s commercial fishing industry. This legislation would authorize Alaskan fishermen to form their own insurance cooperatives, which would lower operating costs and ensure the financial stability of smaller operators facing increasingly difficult economic conditions. Having passed the House unanimously, the bill is now before the Senate, with a strong possibility of enactment this session.

The bill originated from the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska’s Seafood Industry, which analyzed and identified growing financial strains on commercial fishermen. As Representative Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and Senate President Gary Stevens have emphasized, the combination of record-high operating costs and record-low fishing market prices calls for innovative solutions to support this vital sector of Alaska’s economy.

The primary concern driving this legislation is the increasing cost and decreasing availability of traditional insurance for fishing vessels. Underwriters are reportedly increasing premiums and becoming more selective with their customers. This has created a significant barrier for many independent fishermen seeking insurance. By enabling fishermen to collectively pool their resources, they can create a larger, potentially lower-risk insurance pool, theoretically leading to more attractive rates and greater access to coverage.

Published on: May 12, 2025

Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Captain After Fishing Vessel Sinks Near Westport

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

The sinking of the 68-foot fishing vessel F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH near Grays Harbor, Washington, has sent a wave of grief through Pacific Northwest fishing communities. The tragic incident has left Newport captain Jon Stevenson, a seasoned mariner, missing. In the wake of this devastating event, an outpouring of support for the Stevenson family has begun, including a vigil held by the Fishermen’s Wives in Newport on Saturday evening and the launch of a GoFundMe campaign.

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.

Published on: May 6, 2025

Rock Crab Fishing Returns to Northern California

by Nigel Stacey

After nearly a decade, commercial fishermen in northern California are once again permitted to harvest rock crab. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the reopening of the commercial fishery along the coast from the California Oregon border south to the north jetty of Humboldt Bay. This long stretch of rock crab habitat has been closed since 2015 due to persistent domoic acid contamination.

The initial closure of this fishery stemmed from the most extensive recorded bloom of domoic acid along the West Coast. Emergency regulations were enacted, and despite subsequent declines in toxin levels, the area remained off limits through a series of state declarations due to a lack of consistent testing in the years that followed.

A turning point arrived with renewed engagement from commercial fishermen, who proactively began submitting rock crab samples from both central and northern California waters. These efforts proved successful, as recent testing now confirms that domoic acid levels in the newly reopened zone are safely below the federal action level of 30 parts per million for crab viscera.

Published on: April 22, 2025

Stacey & Jacobsen Cares: A Call for Reduced Alcohol Use Among Commercial Fishermen at Sea

by Joseph Stacey

Commercial fishing is undeniably tough work that demands resilience through long hours, hard physical labor, and often isolating periods in some of nature’s most challenging environments. It’s understandable that the combination of these physical and mental demands can create pressure for people who work at sea. This post highlights the genuine risks linked to alcohol use while working at sea, and we want to advocate for practical and healthy ways to handle the stress, fatigue, and boredom that can sometimes come with life working on a fishing vessel. Everyone is entitled to a safe fishing community.

Life as a commercial fisherman is not easy. Being away from loved ones for long periods of time and spotty communication can lead to feelings of loneliness. The constant cycle of long and unpredictable work hours can lead to severe fatigue. Financial uncertainties and harsh weather conditions can add even more stress. It’s no surprise that some in the maritime industry turn to alcohol, especially binge drinking, to cope. While it might offer a quick feeling of relief, alcohol can impact safety by affecting those crucial thinking and physical skills we all need to perform our work at sea.

Alcohol acts like a depressant on our nervous system, significantly affecting judgment, coordination, reaction time, and even our eyesight. All of these are important for safety aboard a fishing vessel. These effects can be stronger at sea due to vessel movement, engine noise, and just plain fatigue. Even a small amount of alcohol can lead to risky situations.

Published on: April 6, 2025

Coast Guard Urges Safe Use and Registration of Emergency Beacons

by Nigel Stacey

Every April 6th marks “406 Day,” a nationwide effort led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to educate mariners about Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). EPIRBs are critical life-saving devices that send out distress signals to rescue teams when someone is in danger on the water.

EPIRBs work by transmitting a recognized distress signal via satellite, quickly alerting search and rescue (SAR) teams to the location of an emergency. However, for these devices to effectively save lives, it’s crucial that they are correctly registered, regularly tested, responsibly used, and properly disposed of when no longer in use.

The Fifth Coast Guard District highlighted the need for responsible EPIRB management by sharing these 2024 statistics: they responded to 830 EPIRB alerts. Of these, only 18 were genuine distress signals. 386 alerts were confirmed as false, and another 426 were unknown or suspected false alerts. These unnecessary alerts resulted in over 40 hours spent on surface searches, more than 45 hours on air searches, and over 2,550 command center man-hours.

Published on: April 1, 2025

Air Station Sitka Helicopter Crew Rescues Woman from F/V Nekton

by Nigel Stacey

On March 26, 2025, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka successfully conducted a medevac of a 37-year-old woman experiencing a medical emergency in Sitka Sound, Alaska. The woman, who was aboard the fishing vessel NEKTON, required immediate medical attention.

The aircrew responded swiftly to the distress call. After arriving on the scene, they skillfully maneuvered the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter above the fishing vessel to safely execute the hoist operation. Despite challenges posed by the weather and the vessel’s movements, the U.S. Coast Guard team efficiently transported the patient aboard the aircraft.

Following the successful hoist, the helicopter crew transferred the woman to awaiting local emergency medical personnel in Sitka. The patient received further evaluation and care upon arrival, highlighting the seamless collaboration between the U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency responders.

Published on: March 26, 2025

Coast Guard Cutter Naushon Retired After 40 Years

by Nigel Stacey

In a ceremony celebrating nearly four decades of service, the U.S. Coast Guard officially decommissioned the Cutter NAUSHON on Friday March 21^st, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Presiding over the event was Rear Adm. Megan Dean, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard District 17, who honored the vessel’s long standing commitment and its crews’ significant contributions to national security and community safety.

Commissioned on October 3^rd, 1986, the NAUSHON was placed into active duty as the 11th vessel in the Island-Class patrol boat fleet. Throughout its service, the NAUSHON exemplified the versatility and dependability that the Island-Class cutters are known for. The cutter played a crucial role in safeguarding Alaska’s challenging coastal waters and provided crucial assistance in marine law enforcement, environmental protection, national defense operations, and numerous lifesaving missions.

Since 2016, when it began operating from Homer, Alaska, the NAUSHON significantly strengthened maritime safety along Alaska’s rugged coastline. While stationed in Homer, the vessel and its crew answered the call in over 50 critical search-and-rescue missions, providing essential assistance to mariners in distress. The NAUSHON also completed nearly 900 law enforcement missions, underscoring its vital role in maintaining maritime security and enforcing federal maritime laws across Alaskan waters.

Published on: March 3, 2025

Imposter Hijacks $8 Million Fishing Vessel with Crew Aboard

by Nigel Stacey

In a highly unusual maritime theft, an imposter successfully took control of an 80-foot commercial fishing vessel in Westport, Washington while the crew was still aboard.

According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Police, the imposter hijacked the F/V JAMIE MARIE, an $8 million groundfish vessel, and steered it into the Grays Harbor bar before the crew realized something was very wrong.

WDFW Sergeant Alexander, who was on patrol at the time, overheard a radio call about a “vehicle theft” in progress. However, the stolen vehicle in question wasn’t a car or motorcycle, but a full-scale fishing vessel.