Boat on the sea
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The 102-foot fishing vessel MUIR MILACH has been involved in an oil spill in Squalicum Marina. An estimated 50 gallons of diesel oil were spilled during transfer operations at the Sawtooth dock in Bellingham. A sheen of oil 100-200 yards long was on the water in the marina. Clean up efforts are underway. The Department of ecology warns that one quart of oil has the potential to foul more than 100,000 gallons of water. The MUIR MILACH was involved in a previous oil spill in 2007. The vessel was reportedly fined $7,500 for that incident.

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The exact number of workers missing after an oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico remains uncertain. As many as 15 workers were missing after the oil rig exploded 52 miles off the Louisiana Coast. Hope remains that the missing crewmen may be in a life raft. A number of crewmen were critically injured and transported to Baton Rouge for treatment of burn injuries. The oil platform that remains leaning and burning is reportedly owned by Transocean and is being leased to BP.

Crewmen on many oil rigs and oil platforms are covered by Federal Maritime law. Investigation into this tragic accident will be extensive.

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A 23 year old crewman with internal bleeding has been airlifted from the fish processing vessel SEA FISHER. The 230-foot long fishing vessel was about 170 miles north of Dutch Harbor at the time of the incident. A Coast Guard helicopter from Cold Bay was to take the crewman to Dutch Harbor for treatment and evaluation.

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The NORTHERN BELLE crew issued a Mayday call to the Coast Guard at 5:30 p.m. yesterday indicating they were was in trouble and needed help. The crew dawned survival suits but were unable to get into the vessel’s life raft. The Coast Guard arrived on the scene at approximately 8:00 p.m. and pulled all four crewmen from the water. One crewman was pronounced dead upon arrival in Cordova.

The Northern Belle is a 75-foot fishing vessel reportedly owned by Triton Inc. The vessel is home ported in Seattle. The accident happened in the Gulf of Alaska near Prince William Sound. The identities of the surviving crewmen have not yet been released. The casualty will be investigated by the Coast Guard.

Few safety regulations are in place to protect fishing vessel crewmen. Most safety regulations governing small commercial fishing vessels relate to survival equipment rather than preventing accidents from happening. In cases involving injuries and deaths of crewmen on fishing vessels, compensation may be paid under the Jones Act and the Death on the High Seas Act.

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The PACIFIC BULLY, a 58-foot fishing vessel, has reportedly gone aground near Huntington Beach, California. The four crewmen aboard the vessel are all reported safe. A salvage contractor has been hired to remove the wreck and prevent the threat of pollution. The cause of the accident is currently unknown and under investigation.

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Westward Seafoods Inc., a Dutch Harbor seafood processing plant has agreed to pay a $570,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act occurring between 2002 and 2006. The EPA complaint against Westward Seafoods alleged improper use and reporting regarding the burning of 1.3 million gallons of diesel fuel and use of 80,000 pounds of ammonia. Under the terms of the settlement, Westward Seafoods will be required to create a preventive maintenance and operation plan, develop and implement an annual training plan for its employees, and develop internal plans for reporting to the federal and local environmental agencies. A spokesman for the EPA stated, “We expect companies that handle hazardous chemicals and operate diesel generators to comply with the law. This settlement is designed to put a system into place that will prevent future violations of the environment and public safety laws.”

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Thursday the Pacific Fisheries Management Council adopted a commercial 2010 Chinook salmon seasons for the Washington and Oregon Coasts. Under the proposal, commercial fishermen will be able to harvest 56,000 Chinook salmon north of Cape Falcon and 13,000 marked hatchery Coho. Recreational fishermen will also share in the openings which provide for a total allowable catch of 117,000 Chinook and 80,000 marked hatchery Coho. The limits reflect a higher rate of return for Chinook salmon, while the Coho season is projected to be a down year. Oregon commercial fishermen have not been permitted to harvest Chinook since 2007. The proposal calls for very limited harvest south of Cape Falcon. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council’s decision still needs final approval by NOAA, which is anticipated on May 1st.

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The U.S. District Attorney has charged Seong Ug Sin, captain of a 587 Panamanian Log Ship, with operating the vessel while intoxicated. The charges stem from a Coast Guard boarding of the ship in the Straight of Juan de Fuca near Port Angles Washington. A breathalyzer test showed Sin’s alcohol level was .10, nearly three times the legal limit. Sin was charged in United States District Court in Tacoma. Sin faces a possible sentence of up to one year in jail and a $100,000 fine. No trial date has yet been set in the matter. The ship involved remained anchored until the owners could man the vessel with an appropriately licensed replacement.

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The Coast Guard has airlifted an injured fisherman from the fishing vessel Neves. The vessel was 115 miles east of Nantucket when it radioed needing medical help for an injured crewman. No details of the accident have been provided. The crewman was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital for emergency medical care.

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Yesterday, the Coast Guard issued an order requiring the cargo vessel STX DAISY to remain at anchor in Port Angeles, Washington. During a routine Coast Guard boarding of the vessel in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Coast Guard suspected the vessel’s Master showed signs of intoxication. The 587 Panamanian flagged vessel was in route from China to Olympia to load timber. The U.S. Attorney’s office is investigating the incident for possible violation of United States laws.

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