Vessel Sinkings

Published on: May 12, 2025

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

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: December 10, 2024

Coast Guard Releases Names of Lost F/V Wind Walker Crew

by Nigel Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard District 17 headquarters announced that the next of kin of the five individuals missing after the sinking of the F/V WIND WALKER have been notified. The agency also released the names of the missing crew members. GoFundMe accounts have been established for all five grieving families:

Published on: May 21, 2024

F/V North American Sinks in Seattle

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday May 14^th, 2024, watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a call that the 91-foot F/V NORTH AMERICAN had partially sunk alongside a pier just east of the Ballard Bridge.

The Seattle Fire Department responded and installed a containment boom around the vessel to prevent pollution, while a dive team worked to plug vents and reduce the risk of further fuel discharge. A second layer of boom was deployed to minimize the chance of a fuel slick escaping. The vessel has a reported maximum capacity of 32,500 gallons of diesel. The U.S. Coast Guard has opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and contracted with Global Dive and Salvage, an oil spill response organization, to manage clean-up and response operations.

The F/V NORTH AMERICA was featured in Season 4 of the reality show Deadliest Catch. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Published on: May 7, 2024

F/V Chief Joseph Sinks near Henry Island

by Nigel Stacey

Watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound were notified around 6 a.m. that the 48-foot F/V CHIEF JOSEPH, was in distress and taking on water. Aboard the vessel was one individual and a dog. The pair evacuated the vessel using a life raft.

Sector watchstanders dispatched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from U.S. Coast Guard Station Bellingham, and the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter ADELIE to assist the distressed vessel.

The survivor and the dog made it safely to the shores of Henry Island on the life raft.

Published on: February 20, 2024

What Caused the Sinking of the F/V Hotspur?

by Nigel Stacey

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has completed an inquiry into the 2022 sinking of the F/V HOTSPUR near Prince of Wales Island. The report concludes that an unnoticed leak in an unoccupied area likely caused the vessel to lose stability, capsize, and sink near Nunez Rocks. Bilge alarms failed to sound or alert crew members that there was flooding below deck, which led to the capsizing of the 53-foot purse seiner.

On August 2, 2022, at about 7:35 PM, the captain and senior deckhand saw that the F/V HOTSPUR was listing to the port side while crossing the Clarence Strait. The captain went below to inspect the bilges and the engine room. He reported that everything appeared normal. To correct the listing of the vessel, the captain initiated a fuel transfer from a port-side tank to a starboard day tank. Despite his efforts, the listing persisted, and the senior deckhand noticed water spilling onto the rear deck from the port quarter.

The captain directed the senior deckhand to notify the other crewmembers to ready the life raft for abandoning ship. The captain transmitted a distress announcement via VHF radio. Nearby F/V LADY KODIAK and THE CODFATHER II heeded the call and altered their course to provide assistance.

Published on: November 28, 2023

Derelict Vessel El Capitan Sinks off Orcas Island

by Nigel Stacey

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the Islands’ Oil Spill Association (IOSA) were deployed on Saturday, November 18^th, 2023, to address the sinking of the 80-foot vessel EL CAPITAN at West Sound Marina on Orcas Island.

Watchstanders at Sector Puget Sound command center were alerted by West Sound Marina about the rapidly sinking vessel near the pier in roughly 30 feet of water, and a visible sheen was observed.

Coast Guard Pollution Responders promptly informed IOSA, who arrived at the scene and worked with the marina to deploy booms and absorbents. As a precautionary measure, IOSA brought several trailers loaded with additional boom supplies. The Washington Department of Ecology also responded to support IOSA’s efforts. Throughout the weekend, IOSA monitored the sinking vessel.

Published on: May 30, 2023

3 Rescued After Boat Sinks near Coos Bay

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people on Monday morning, May 29th, after their vessel sank in the waters off Cape Arago beach, about 15 miles southwest of Coos Bay.

At about 8 a.m. the U. S. Coast Guard received a distress call reporting that a fishing boat was taking on water. A 47-foot motor lifeboat and a helicopter launched from Coos Bay and North Bend. Responders were at the scene within 30 minutes, where they found three people in the water, all wearing life jackets.

A U.S. Coast Guard rescuer was lowered onto the motor lifeboat and helped administer first aid to the three people. Victims showed signs of hypothermia and were treated by first responders.

Published on: March 21, 2023

Immersion Suit Safety

by Nigel Stacey

In August of 2020, multiple U.S. Coast Guard units received distress calls stating that the F/V ARCTIC FOX II, a 66-foot commercial fishing boat, had begun taking on water. The vessel was located about 85 miles off Cape Flattery, Washington at the time of trouble.

The three crewmembers aboard were getting ready to abandon ship and reported that they were all wearing survival suits. Once on the scene, the U.S. Coast Guard aircrew immediately spotted a lifeboat. One survivor was aboard and hoisted into the helicopter. Tragically, the other two crewmembers did not survive. The fishermen were all wearing survival suits; however it was later reported that the suits were old, in poor repair, and the seams were cracked. The suits that were meant to save lives were not watertight.

This tragic accident highlights the need for all vessel owners, masters, and captains to test the functionality of immersion suits stored on their vessels. Under federal law, it is the duty of the person in charge of the vessel to make sure all lifesaving gear is properly maintained and inspected before each voyage.

Published on: February 7, 2023

Search for F/V Ethel May Crewmember Suspended

by Nigel Stacey

U.S. Coast Guard Watchstanders at the Thirteenth District in Seattle received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) transmission from the F/V ETHEL MAY on Sunday, February 5^th at approximately 7:30 p.m. The 46-foot crabbing vessel was near the Willapa Bay entrance at the time of the distress transmission.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Oregon, were also notified that the wife of one of the men aboard the vessel called 911 to report an emergency.

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria immediately launched a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and U.S. Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat and crew.

Published on: November 1, 2022

13 Rescued After F/V Tremont Collides with Container Ship

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 13 people from a sinking fishing vessel on Friday, October 28^th after the vessel collided with a container ship. The 115-foot F/V TREMONT was about 60 miles off the coast of Virginia, just southeast of Chincoteague at the time of the accident.

Watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia received a mayday call at about 2 a.m. from the F/V TREMONT, stating that they were sinking after colliding with the 1000-foot Panamanian-flagged C/V MSC RITA. It was reported that there were 13 people aboard the fishing vessel, and that they were abandoning ship.

An urgent marine information broadcast was issued to all area vessels, and watchstanders issued the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, a U.S. Coast Guard Station Chincoteague Motor Life Boat, then diverted the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Rollin Fritch. Two additional aircrafts from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City in North Carolina were also dispatched.