Boat on the sea
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The Coast Guard is concerned over possible fuel leakage from the grounded fishing vessel, MAR GUN. The vessel went aground early yesterday morning on St. George Island. The five-member crew of the MAR GUN was rescued from the vessel by a United States Coast Guard helicopter. However, the grounded vessel is reportedly carrying 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and is near a fur seal and sea lion rookery; an island which is also home to one of the largest nesting colonies of sea birds in the Northern Hemisphere. Because of the sensitive nature of the environment, the Coast Guard has mobilized the National Strike Force’s Pacific Strike Force Team to respond to the threat of pollution, and they will reportedly be working to remove the fuel and lube oil from the vessel. They are anticipated to be on the scene late Friday afternoon. No pollution has been reported at this time. The MAR GUN crew transferred fuel to the vessel’s interior tanks prior to abandoning the vessel.

The MAR GUN is a 112-foot Seattle based trawler that fishes in the Bering Sea for pollock. The details of the cause of the grounding are unclear at this time, and the United States Coast Guard will be conducting further investigations.

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The fishing vessel MAR-GUN issued a mayday call early this morning, reporting they were aground half a mile from St. George Island, Alaska. The five-member crew aboard the 112-foot Seattle based stern trawler were hoisted to safety by a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. Weather at the scene was reported to be 57 mile per hour winds with 5-6 foot seas. No injuries were initially reported, and the accident will be investigated by the United States Coast Guard.

This is the second close call for an Alaska fishing boat in the past week. The ICY MIST went aground on Akutan Island on February 25th. Quick rescue action by the Coast Guard has been instrumental in saving the crews of the MAR-GUN and ICY MIST. Tragically, the first anniversary of the sinking of the ALASKA RANGER will be marked on March 23rd.

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Four crewmen from the ICY MIST have been rescued from their sinking vessel by the United States Coast Guard. The ICY MIST reportedly began taking on water early Wednesday morning, and issued a Mayday call that was relayed to the Coast Guard by other nearby fishing vessels. The ICY MIST went aground on the western shore of Akutan Island. Weather conditions were severe with winds reaching up to 120 mph. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk rescued the crewmen, who were able to make it ashore and climb shore-side cliffs so the Coast Guard helicopter could safely hoist them up. Reported rescued from the vessel are: Dan Oliver; Clint Packer; Kevin Fisner; and Terry Meyer. There was no reported known cause of the vessel distress, and the Coast Guard will be investigating the cause of the accident.

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The United States Coast Guard reports that they have received a Mayday call for the 58-foot commercial fishing vessel, ICY MIST. The fishing vessels Arctic Fox and Norther Glacier relayed the early morning Mayday call to the Coast Guard, reporting that the ICY MIST was taking on water. The vessel is reportedly grounded on the shore of Akutan Island, and is in danger of breaking up. Akutan is a remote island approximately 80 miles east of Dutch Harbor. Four crewmen are reportedly on board the vessel. The Coast Guard Cutter Monroe, and two Jayhawk helicopters are en route to assist the vessel.

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Tragedy has struck again in the Alaska crab fleet. On January 6, 2009 Keith Criner of Stockton, CA was pulled overboard while fishing on the SEABROOKE, 22 miles northwest of Cold Bay. Reports indicate that Criner got tangled up in a crab pot line while setting gear, and was pulled overboard. The Coast Guard called off the search for the crewman after an extensive air search failed to locate him. The SEABROOKE is home-based in Kodiak, AK. Despite heightened awareness of the need for vessel safety, working as a fisherman in Alaska remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The 2008 year resulted in multiple vessel sinkings, with loss of crewmen’s lives, including the sinking of the Alaska Ranger and the KATMAI.

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The Pacific Glacier, home ported in Seattle, made it back to Dutch Harbor under it’s own power after a fire threatened to destroy it in the Bering Sea.

On February 26th the Pacific Glacier caught fire at sea. First mate, Odd Rotset, summoned fire crews aboard the vessel, who were immediately sent to the area where the alarm indicated. Ships in the area were also notified of the situation taking place onboard. Those crewmen not trained in fire control immediately donned survival suits, and were the first ones evacuated from the vessel.

Within 45 minutes of the fire alarm it became obvious that progress was not being made with the fire. First mate Rotset then contacted the Coast Guard who diverted USCG Cutter Alex Haley to the fire, but it would not arrive for another five hours. Fortunately for the Pacific Glacier, there were more than a dozen ships in the area waiting to help, and they began by evacuating the 90 crew who were not trained to fight fires. Additionally, they provided firefighters and equipment. Without this help, the Pacific Glacier would have quickly used up the breathing equipment they had onboard, greatly falling short of the time they needed to get the fire under control. Without the additional equipment and firefighters, the vessel surely would have been a complete loss.

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Mike Dunne and Vern McGee are missing, along with the vessel “Transition.” On February 22, 2008 the Coast Guard was notified, and a 6-day search began that covered 6700 square miles of water and shoreline. On the 27th, a door from the Transition was found on Frederick Sound on Kupreanof Island.

Mike and Vern were on their way from Juneau to Ketchikan at the time of the incident. The search was officially called off on February 28th, 2008.

Source: USGC Press Release

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008 the tugboat Joe Foss sunk in 210 feet of water off the Oregon Coast near Tillamook. All three crew members were rescued by a nearby fishing vessel, the Kilchis, before the Coast Guard transferred them to their station in Tillamook Bay. The tug was believed to be carrying 1300 gallons of fuel when it went down.

A day or two earlier the Joe Foss began taking on water near Neah Bay, Washington and was escorted by the Coast Guard into La Push, WA for repairs.

Source: USCG

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January 23, 2008 the 78-foot crabbing vessel, Anna Marie, became grounded on the north end of Copalis Beach, WA. No injuries were reported. Attempts continue to try and pull the vessel back to deeper water. 2000 gallons of fuel and 200 gallons of other petroleum products are aboard, and they appear to be secure for the time being.

Source: USCG

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January 21, 2008 the 69-foot fishing boat, Haeshin, hit a jetty near Westport, WA and sank into the channel. All three crew members were rescued before the vessel went under in 30 feet of water.

The Haeshin reportedly had 540 gallons of diesel aboard when it sank. Crews were unable to remove the fuel at the time due to conditions. Sonar was later used to try and locate the sunken boat, as it appeared to have drifted from it’s known location. The vessel has not yet been found, and no signs of a diesel spill have been reported.

Source: USCG

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