Recent Updates
August 30, 2010
Alaska Fishing Boat Sinks After Hitting Iceberg; Crew of Three Saved By Nearby Vessels
August 26, 2010
Tug Boat Deckhand Suffers Head Injury
August 12, 2010
Marine Electrician Recovers $740,000 Jones Act Verdict After Fall From Ladder
August 12, 2010
Crewman On Fishing Vessel RONDYS Suffers Head Injury
August 09, 2010
Capsized Charter Boat Found Off Vancouver Island
August 04, 2010
Fisherman Suffers Head Injury Off Oregon Coast
July 29, 2010
Court Rules Statements In Crewman's Accident Report Not Admission of No Fault
July 28, 2010
Seattle Fishing Vessel Aground in Prince William Sound
July 09, 2010
Alaska Fishermen's Fund Benefits Increased to $10,000
July 09, 2010
Price Fixing Suit Filed Against Pacific Seafoods
Vessel Sinkings
Alaska Fishing Boat Sinks After Hitting Iceberg; Crew of Three Saved By Nearby Vessels
Posted by: James M. Beard
August 30, 2010
A sixty-foot fishing vessel struck an iceberg in Wrangell Narrows entrance and sank Friday morning. The three crewmembers of the EMILY JANE were rescued by nearby good samaritan vessels. The vessel reportedly was carrying 600 gallons of fuel. Salvage and pollution control efforts were underway on Saturday. There were no reported injuries and how the vessel became involved in the collision is unknown at this time.
Majestic Blue Sinks In South Pacific -Two Missing and 22 Crewmen Survive
Posted by: James M. Beard
June 16, 2010
The MAJESTIC BLUE has sunk in the South Pacific 925 miles south of American Samoa. Two crewmen are reported as missing, and 22 crewmen have reportedly survived the sinking. A sister ship, the PACIFIC BREEZE, reportedly rescued the surviving crewmen. The cause of the casualty is under investigation. The U.S. Coast Guard is assisting the government of Fiji in conducting a search for the two missing crew members.
Four Alaska Crewmen Rescued from Sinking Fishing Boat
Posted by: James M. Beard
May 20, 2010
Four crewmen abandoned their 47-foot longliner fishing vessel as it began to sink on Wednesday. The accident happened near Montague Island located near the entrance to Prince William Sound. The crewmen radioed the Coast Guard for help, donned survival suits and abandoned ship into a life raft before being airlifted to safety by a Coast Guard helicopter. The vessel, CAPE SPENCER, is home ported in Kodiak, Alaska, and is a total loss after completely sinking. The cause of the sinking is unknown at this time but will be the subject of further Coast Guard investigation. This accident is another in a long line of Alaska Fishing Vessel sinkings in the last two years. New proposed safety regulations regarding fishing vessels such as the CAPE SPENCER are currently pending before Congress.
Coast Guard Investigating Loading of Fishing Vessel NORTHERN BELLE
Posted by: James M. Beard
April 26, 2010
Statements by survivors of the sinking of the NORTHERN BELLE are leading Coast Guard investigators to look at the manner in which the vessel was loaded as a potential cause of the accident. The Captain of the NORTHERN BELLE died when the vessel sank in Alaskan waters last week. Crewmen who survived the accident have indicated the vessel was carrying cargo and had very limited free board. The crewmen who survived the sinking have told reporters that the Captain was concerned about the loading of the vessel. What safety regulations may apply to the NORTHERN BELLE may depend upon the type of cargo the vessel was transporting. Reports indicate that the vessel may not have been hauling fishing gear or equipment, but rather lumber. Improper loading of vessels can cause sudden loss of stability and lead to sinking of the vessel. Smaller fishing boats are not required to have detailed stability reports aboard their vessels.
Alaska Fishing Vessel Crewman Dies in Sinking of Northern Belle - Three Survive
Posted by: James M. Beard
April 21, 2010
Four crewmen from the 75-foot Alaska fishing vessel NORTHERN BELLE abandoned ship in the Gulf of Alaska as the vessel began to sink around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The crew was able to send a May Day call but was unable to get into the vessel's life raft. Coast Guard helicopters from Kodiak responded immediately to the call and pulled four crewmen in survival suits from the water around 8:00 p.m. One crewman was reported dead upon arrival in Cordova.
BARGE CAPSIZES NEAR COLUMBIA RIVER BAR
Posted by: James M. Beard
April 14, 2010
A Canadian tug boat towing a 295 foot barge has reported the barge capsized about eight miles from the Columbia River bar.
DEADLY ALASKA FISHING BOAT SINKING MARKS TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Posted by: James M. Beard
March 23, 2010
March 23, 2010 - The ALASKA RANGER sank in the Bering Sea two years ago today. Five crewmen lost their lives in the accident and 42 other crewmen miraculously survived. The Coast Guard Casualty Investigation into the cause of the sinking of the ALASKA RANGER remains pending and their report is anticipated in the next several months. The National Transportation and Safety Board issued their Marine Accident Report in September, 2009.
ALASKA RANGER DOCUMENTARY - MAYDAY, BERING SEA TO AIR ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL
Posted by: James M. Beard
March 03, 2010
The Discovery Channel will air a documentary tonight on the sinking of the Alaska fishing vessel the ALASKA RANGER. The ALASKA RANGER was owned by the Fishing Company of Alaska and sank on March 23, 2008 with 47 crewmen on board. Five crewmen perished in the frigid waters but the other 42 crewmen were miraculously saved by the United States Coast Guard. The surviving crewmen escaped what was near certain death from freezing waters and high seas. Many of the crewmen still have reoccurring nightmares of the sinking and the loss of their fellow crewmen.
FOUR CREWMEN RESCUED FROM MISSING TUGBOAT
Posted by: James M. Beard
January 28, 2010
A life raft with four surviving crewmen from the missing tugboat BETTY has been located 53 miles north of Jamaica. One crewman remains missing. The Coast Guard began searching for the U.S. flagged BETTY after receiving an EPIRB signal indicating the tug was in possible trouble. The surviving crewmen were taken to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Coast Guard called off the air search for the remaining crewman on Tuesday. The cause of the tugboat sinking is not known at this time and will be subject of further investigation by the Coast Guard.
SEATTLE LAKE UNION BOAT FIRE
Posted by: James Beard
December 10, 2009
A fire reportedly caused by faulty wiring has caused an estimated $2 million dollars in damages to three yachts on Seattle's Lake Union. Nearly 100 fireman responded to the early morning fire which occurred at Sundance Yacht Sales. Below freezing temperatures created dangerous conditions for the firemen. Two firefighters and a policeman fell into the freezing water while fighting the blaze. Quick response stopped the fire from spreading to the fleet of vessel's moored nearby. Firefighters cut several boats loose from their mooring to prevent additional damages.
WASHINGTON CRAB BOAT LOSES CREWMAN OVERBOARD NEAR COLUMBIA RIVER BAR
Posted by: James Beard
December 04, 2009
The crab fishing vessel, Ballad, lost a crewman overboard Thursday ten miles off the Columbia River Bar. The Ballad is a 56-foot crab fishing vessel home-ported in Chinook, Washington. The 32-year-old crewman was reportedly only wearing rain gear at the time of the accident, and was not wearing a flotation-type work vest, which many vessel operators require their crewmen to wear.
SEATTLE TUGBOAT SINKS AT DOCK CREWMAN RESCUED
Posted by: James Beard
November 23, 2009
A crewman aboard the tug SEA BORN was hospitalized yesterday when the tug sank in heavy weather. The vessel was moored at Terminal Five in Seattle when it sank around 10 P.M.
FOUR CREWMEN ESCAPE SINKING OF FISHING VESSEL CARLEY RENEE NEAR DUTCH HARBOR ALASKA
Posted by: James Beard
November 20, 2009
The crew of the CARLEY RENEE contacted the Coast Guard on October 30, reporting they were taking on water and abandoning ship 22 miles east of Unalaska, Alaska.
NTSB RELEASES PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ON CAUSE OF ALASKA RANGER SINKING
Posted by: James M. Beard
October 05, 2009
On September 30, 2009, the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) released their preliminary findings into the sinking of the Alaska Ranger. The NTSB press release is set forth below. The report is woefully lacking in any meaningful recommendations to the owners of the ALASKA RANGER, Fishing Company of Alaska.
CASUALTY REPORT TO BE RELEASED ON CAUSE OF ALASKA RANGER SINKING
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 30, 2009
The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) released a summary today of their report into the cause of the sinking of the fishing vessel Alaska Ranger. The Alaska Ranger, a 180-foot factory trawler, sank on March 23, 2008 in the Bering Sea. Five of the 47 crewmen aboard the vessel died in the accident. Many of the surviving crewmen spent 4-6 hours fighting for their lives in leaky survival suits in freezing cold waters and high seas before being rescued by the United States Coast Guard.
COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO FISHING VESSEL SINKING NEAR OREGON
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 25, 2009
The Coast Guard has reported that its Portland unit received a call to assist in a search for two missing crewmembers that were aboard a fishing vessel when it sank near Oregon. The Coast Guard launched a jayhawk helicopter to assist in the search for the two missing crewmembers.
COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO BURNING FISHING VESSEL
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 25, 2009
The Coast Guard reported that it has responded to a fishing vessel fire in Corpus Christi Bay. A Coast Guard rescue helicopter was in the air when it spotted smoke coming from a fishing vessel. The rescue helicopter diverted and responded and found two crewmembers in a life raft next to the burning fishing vessel. A rescue swimmer found that one of the crewmembers had suffered burns to 20% of his body and was showing signs of shock. The crewmember was immediately hoisted and transported to the hospital. The other crewmember and rescue swimmer were left with a Good Samaritan vessel and a second rescue helicopter was sent to recover them.
COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO BOAT EXPLOSION NEAR CHARLESTON OREGON
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 18, 2009
The Coast Guard has reported that a 21 foot pleasure vessel caught fire and exploded near the Charleston Marina. The cause of the fire and explosion is unknown.
The Coast Guard received reports from several eye witnesses of the fire. The Coast Guard dispatched rescue crews to rescue two people who were reportedly in the water and to extinguish the fire. The vessel was heavily damaged from the explosion and sank.
The two people were transported by local ambulance to Coos Bay area Hospital and their condition is unknown as this time.
SIX PEOPLE RESCUED FROM CAPSIZED VESSEL OFF OREGON COAST
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 18, 2009
The Coast Guard reported a distress call from a 21 foot vessel that capsized in the Nehalem Bay, Oregon. The unidentified vessel reportedly capsized and sank. There is no indication of what caused the incident.
The Coast Guard dispatched two rescue vessels and a beach crew to assist in the rescue. Three of the crewmembers were able to make it to shore and the other three were brought to shore by the Coast Guard. Five of the crewmembers were taken by a waiting Tillamook County Ambulance and transported to Tillamook County Hospital with minor injuries. Their conditions are currently unknown.
COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO SINKING VESSEL NEAR VALDEZ ALASKA
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 17, 2009
The Coast Guard reported that its Anchorage rescue center received a distress call from the charter vessel LONESTAR that a 20 foot jet boat with two crewmembers onboard was taking on water and had no radios to call for help and no pump equipment on board to stop the flooding.
The Coast Guard's Anchorage Rescue Center immediately dispatched a response vessel from its Valdez station to assist the sinking boat. The response vessel passed dewatering pumps to the jet boat but the crewmembers were unable to deflood the vessel before the engines shut down and the boat began drifting towards nearby rocks.
Coast Guard personnel boarded the jet boat and was able to assist, utilizing the boats kicker engine and the guide the boat to deeper water. The boat was then escorted by the Coast Guard back to the Valdez Harbor.
