Articles Posted in Overboard Incidents

This morning, about 10 miles northwest of Unimak Island, Alaska, a man went into the water off 98-foot, Newport, Oregon-based SEEKER. According to reports, the crew aboard Good Samaritan trawler-processor SEAFREEZE ALASKA contacted the Coast Guard asking for help searching for the man. A number of other Good Samaritan vessel crews and Coast Guard helicopter crews joined in the effort immediately, with the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley crew arriving to assist during the afternoon.

At the time the seas were 10 feet with winds of 35mph. The missing man is said to be Eric Eder of Waldport, Oregon, a husband and father of young children. How he went into the water has not yet been released and is under investigation. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.

The fishing vessel SENJA is reporting that a crewman has been lost overboard off the Washington Coast. The Coast Guard is searching for the crewman via helicopter and motor life boat. Weather is reported to be five knot winds with six foot waves. The accident happened at approximately 1:30 a.m. about 8 miles due west of Ocean Shores. The fifty-six year old crewman was not wearing a life jacket. It has been recommended that all deckhands working on commercial fishing vessels wear floatation devices and work vests. No further details are available about the accident at this time. Fishing off the Coasts of Washington and Oregon remains highly dangerous. Last year the F/V LADY CECELIA sank in the same fishing area, with the loss of four lives.

It was the middle of the night when Columbia River Bar Capt. Debbie Dempsey fell overboard just west of the Columbia River Bar on March 5th. Capt. Dempsey had guided a grain ship over the treacherous bar and was climbing down a jacobs latter to return to the Pilot Boat COLUMBIA when the fall occurred. Bar pilots do not wear survival suits and, instead, use a type of lighter float suit that is equipped with a water-activated strobe and emergency radio beacon. In Captain Dempsey’s case, the crew of the Pilot Boat COLUMBIA was able to quickly locate Capt. Dempsey and get her back aboard the pilot boat.

In 2006, Captain Kevin Murray was working heavy weather as a Columbia River Bar Pilot when he fell in a similar transfer, losing his life. Investigation into Captain Murray’s death in a subsequent maritime wrongful death claim brought by Beard Stacey & Jacobsen revealed a number of deficiencies in the Columbia River Bar Pilots’ training and procedures. Columbia River Bar pilots now vigorously train in search and rescue procedures. The cause of Capt. Dempsey’s accident will be investigated by the Columbia River Bar Pilots, as well as probably the United States Coast Guard and the NTSB.