Vessel Sinkings

Published on: February 14, 2017

Search for F/V DESTINATION in the Bering Sea Suspended

It is with great sadness that we report the suspension of the search for the six missing crew members of the F/V DESTINATION. The vessel is believed to have sunk on Saturday, February 11th in the Bering Sea. Weather at the time was reported as 30-mph winds with five to eight-foot seas and snowing. The air temperature was 21 degrees and sea temperature was 3o degrees.

The Coast Guard reported that the search covered more than 5,730 square nautical miles, and included 21 coordinated searches with a total of 69 aircraft and surface hours.

Watchstanders from the 17th District reported that an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert was received from the F/V DESTINATION early Saturday morning, and that Kodiak aircrews were deployed to initiate the search.

Published on: February 11, 2017

Search Continues for F/V DESTINATION and Six Crew in Bering Sea, Alaska

by Joseph Stacey

The search in the Bering Sea continues for the 98’ F/V DESTINATION and six crewmembers, whose emergency beacon broadcast a signal at 7:15 am, February 11 from two miles northwest of St. George, Alaska. The Coast Guard’s Hercules airplane crew arrived at 10:15 am to begin searching, and two helicopters crews are also assisting. Two Good Samaritan fishing vessels, SILVER SPRAY AND BERING ROSE, also assisted with the search.

The emergency beacon, or electronic position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), was found in a debris field with buoys, a life ring from the DESTINATION, tarps, and an oil sheen.

Residents in St. George are patrolling the shoreline for any signs of the crew or boat. St. George is a small Pribilof Island with a population of approximately 100.

Published on: January 31, 2017

Final El Faro Hearing Scheduled

by Joseph Stacey

The third and final EL FARO hearing has been scheduled for February 6, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation will focus on crew witnesses, TOTE company officials, Coast Guard officials as well as the contents of EL FARO’S voyage data recorder (VDR). The transcript of bridge audio recordings was released on December 13, 2016, by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The examination of data from the voyage data recorder began on August 15, one week after the device was located at a depth of 15,000 feet and brought to the surface. NTSB recovered about 26 hours of information from the device, including bridge audio, navigational data, onboard radar images, route planning and wind data.

The investigation seeks to determine which factors contributed to the sinking, and will look for evidence of misconduct, inattention to duty, negligence, willful violation of the law by any licensed or certified person, as well as whether there is any evidence that Coast Guard personnel or any government employee contributed to the accident.

Published on: January 10, 2017

Good Samaritan Rescues 5 After Star King Sinking

by Joseph Stacey

WARRENTON, Ore. – Five commercial fishermen were rescued from the water after their fishing vessel STAR KING, a 55-foot stern trawler, capsized and sank near the mouth of the Columbia River early Saturday morning.

Crewmembers were pulled from the water by good Samaritan fishing vessel SEA BALLAD, then transferred to the Coast Guard 47-foot Motor Life Boat. The STAR KING crew were then transported to Ilwaco, Washington by Coast Guard personnel. No crewmembers required medical attention.

Watchstanders at the Sector Columbia River command center received the first mayday call at 4:31 a.m. It was reported that the vessel was taking on water and listing hard to starboard before capsizing and sending all five fishermen into the water. All crewmembers were accounted for by 5:10 a.m.

Published on: December 27, 2016

Coast Guard Continues Investigation of Alaska Juris Sinking

by Joseph Stacey

Two weeks of Coast Guard hearings and testimonies this past month are slowly revealing the mystery behind the July 26^th sinking of the Alaska JURIS that forced 46 crewmembers to abandon ship in the Bering Sea. Chief Engineer aboard the JURIS, Eddie Hernandez, was a key witness for Coast Guard attempts to reveal operations of the vessel’s owner, Fishing Company of Alaska. The company teams with a Japanese fish buyer, Anyo Fisheries, and continues to operate three factory trawlers whose crews process and freeze catch.

This is not the first time that Fishing Company of Alaska has been at the center of a major Coast Guard inquiry. In fact, many issues that surfaced during the Alaska JURIS hearings paralleled the 2008 sinking of FCA’s Alaska Ranger. In both instances, there were reported gaps in a Coast Guard inspection program, chronic vessel maintenance issues, and safety conflicts between a U.S. crew and Japanese workers.

Although the report on the Alaska JURIS is not expected for months, the hearings offered a look at conditions and operations aboard the vessel. Crewmember Carl Lee Jones revealed in testimony problems surrounding rusting pipes, run down crew quarters, and Japanese crew members who refused to participate in safety drills.

Published on: December 11, 2016

Update: Search For Missing Crewmembers Called Off

by Joseph Stacey

The Coast Guard cancelled the search for the two missing crewmembers of the EXITO after searching for more than 40 hours. The EXITO sank 14 miles out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, north of Unalaska Bay, on Tuesday night, December 6. Three crewmembers who abandoned ship were rescued by the Good Samaritan ship AFOGNAK STRAIT. Two other people onboard, names currently withheld, have not been found.

The Coast Guard Cutter ALEX HALEY, a Jayhawk helicopter crew, and three Good Samaritan ships searched for the remaining two people Wednesday and Thursday. “The decision to suspend a search is never an easy one to make and is done with great care and deliberation after thoroughly evaluating our search efforts and the situation,” said Capt. Laura Dickey, chief of staff of the 17th Coast Guard District. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing men.”

The cause of the sinking is still under investigation. This firm’s thoughts and prayers are also with the family and friends of the two missing men.

Published on: December 7, 2016

Two Crewmembers Missing After F/V EXITO Sinks Off Dutch Harbor, Alaska

by Joseph Stacey

Two of five crewmembers are still missing after the 117’ EXITO sank 14 miles northeast of Dutch Harbor, Alaska on Tuesday evening, December 6.

The owner of the EXITO called the Anchorage Coast Guard around 9:40 pm to report that the ship was taking on water and the crew was preparing to abandon ship. A Kodiak Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and four Good Samaritan ships in the area responded, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Meredith Manning.

“One of the Good Samaritan vessels, the AFOGNAK STRAIT, located three EXITO crew members and took them aboard their vessel,” Manning said. “The three had abandoned ship together, and the other two were preparing to abandon ship.” The AFOGNAK STRAIT crew rushed the three to Dutch Harbor. The rescued crewmembers reported that one of the missing EXITO crew had put on an immersion suit and was last seen preparing to abandon ship.

Published on: December 5, 2016

ALASKA JURIS Hearings to be Streamed Live from Seattle

by Joseph Stacey

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The U.S. Coast Guard began a two-week public Formal Marine Investigation today to determine the cause of the sinking of the 220-foot fishing vessel, ALASKA JURIS. The vessel sank off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands on July 26th.

Efforts were made to locate the sunken vessel by the Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and The Fishing Company of Alaska, but the vessel was never found. The ALASKA JURIS sank in approximately 5,400 feet of water, and its last known location was about 41 miles northeast of Segula Island.

The Seventeenth Coast Guard District commander will be holding the two weeks of hearings at the Henry Jackson Federal Building in Seattle. Testimony will be streamed live and can be seen at Livestream.

Published on: October 25, 2016

Pacific Rim Sinks Outside Westport Marina

by Joseph Stacey

On October 23, 2016, at 3:51 AM, Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a mayday call. It was Michael Carroll, 70-year-old captain of the 60-foot fishing vessel Pacific Rim, which had begun to sink under him outside the Westport Marina.

If this vessel name sounds familiar, it’s because back in 2012 it ran aground near Coos Bay, OR in the midst of a thick fog. This time, it hit a submerged object and began sinking.

Upon receiving the call that “the vessel was taking on water”, an MLB crew was promptly launched and reached Carroll at 4:15 AM, rescuing him onto a 47-foot Motor Life Boat. Next he was transferred to Westport Marina’s emergency medical services, then relocated to Grays Harbor Community Hospital with symptoms of hypothermia.

Published on: October 10, 2016

Five Fishermen Rescued Near Grays Harbor, Washington

by Joseph Stacey

Five fishermen were rescued by the US Coast Guard on Friday, October 7^th, 2016 when a 56-foot commercial fishing vessel began taking on water. The Taplow was about 19 miles southwest of Grays Harbor, Washington when the Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received the distress call that the vessel was taking on water. The captain reported that the engine room was half flooded, and pumps had stopped working.

An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued and the Motor Lifeboat Invincible was dispatched, as well as a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew. The crew was directed to activate their Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon and put on immersion suits.

The Grays Harbor helicopter crew was first to arrive on the scene, delivering a pump and standing by until a second helicopter crew arrived. A rescue swimmer was deployed to assist with dewatering until the Motor Lifeboat Invincible and crew arrived. With the fishing vessel listing sideways, the MLB crew advised the fishermen aboard the Taplow to abandon ship.