Recent Updates
March 08, 2010
COURT DENIES ICICLE SEAFOOD?S MOVE TO REDUCE $1.3 MILLION DOLLAR PUNITIVE DAMAGE AWARD
March 03, 2010
ALASKA RANGER DOCUMENTARY - MAYDAY, BERING SEA TO AIR ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL
March 02, 2010
Three Crewmen Die When Cruise Ship Crashes While Docking In Egypt
February 22, 2010
ALASKA CRAB BOAT NORTHWESTERN DOCKS AT SEATTLE FISHERMANS TERMINAL
January 29, 2010
ICICLE SEAFOODS ORDERED TO PAY INJURED SEAMAN ATTORNEY FEES FOR MAINTENANCE AND CURE TRIAL
January 28, 2010
FOUR CREWMEN RESCUED FROM MISSING TUGBOAT
January 25, 2010
ALASKA FACTORY TRAWLER FLEET BEGINS 2010 FISHING SEASON
January 20, 2010
EXXON OIL TANKER LOSES POWER IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
January 20, 2010
MARATHON OIL DECKHAND DIES AFTER FALL OVERBOARD
January 20, 2010
ALASKA FISHING VESSEL ORDERED TO RETURN TO PORT FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS
Vessel Sinkings
ALASKA RANGER DOCUMENTARY - MAYDAY, BERING SEA TO AIR ON DISCOVERY CHANNEL
Posted by: euser
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: euser
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.
TWO CREWMAN RESCUED FROM SHIP FIRE OFF OF WASHINGTON COAST
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 17, 2009
The Coast Guard has reported that the 60 foot fishing vessel PORTLUCK has caught fire ten miles off of the coast of Long Beach Washington. The two man crew of the vessel was able to relay a mayday before abandoning ship into a life raft. The Coast Guard cutter ACTIVE was diverted to the vessel and rescued the crew. The vessel was sunk to avoid potential pollution of coastal shores. The vessel was reported to have 400 gallons of diesel fuel on board. There were no reports of injuries and the cause the vessel fire is under investigation.
KODIAK BASED FISHING VESSEL HAIL MARY GROUNDED NEAR KODIAK, ALASKA
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 16, 2009
On August 25, 2009 the Coast Guard reported that its Anchorage Command Center received a call that the Kodiak based fishing vessel the HAIL MARY had grounded and was taking on water with four crewmembers aboard.
The vessel was located in Nymens Peninsula in Womens Bay near the Coast Guard base in Kodiak. The Coast Guard was on scene within 10 minutes to help the crew refloat the vessel. A small boat crew delivered a dewatering pump. The damaged part of the hull was plugged and the vessel was afloat about an hour later.
The crew of the HAIL MARY used their own skiff to tow the vessel to the dock at Pacific Seafoods in Kodiak City.
SEVEN CREWMEN RESCUED NEAR JUNEAU, ALASKA
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 16, 2009
On August 17, 2009, the Coast Guard reported that their Juneau Command, along with the Alaska State Troopers rescued seven people near Tee Harbor along the Favorite Channel approximately 15 miles from Juneau, Alaska. Five of the crewmembers were rescued by a Good Samaritan vessel, the Juneau based fishing vessel LOYAL LADY.
The Coast Guard reported that it received a mayday call from the pleasure boat reporting that the vessel was taking on water and the crewmembers were abandoning ship. The Coast Guard arrived on the scene along with the Alaska State Troopers.
Two of the crewmembers became trapped under the capsized vessel. One was able to break free and wasrescued by the Good Samaritan vessel. The seventh crewmember was freed and rescued by the Coast Guard cutter LIBERTY.
The seventh crewmember, a 73 year old man, was unresponsive. CPR was started and the Alaska State Troopers transported him to Auke Bay for a waiting ambulance. The remaining six crewmembers were transported in good condition to Juneau.
SEATTLE COAST GUARD UNIT RESPONDS TO CAPSIZED FISHING VESSEL ANA J
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 01, 2009
The Coast Guard has reported that on Friday, August 28, 2009, its Seattle unit responded to the capsizing of the fishing vessel the ANA J near Salmon Bank in the San Juan Islands in Washington. The cause of the capsizing is unknown at this time.
According to the Coast Guard, the San Juan, Washington Sheriff's office were on scene and assisting Good Samaritans who had already pulled the six person crew from the water. Four crewmembers were treated at a local medical facility and one crewmember was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The other crew member was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham. There are not no reports as to the extent of the crew's injuries.
FOUR RESCUED FROM SINKING JUNEAU FISHING VESSEL, THE NAHANNI
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 01, 2009
The Anchorage Daily News is reporting that on Saturday, August 19, 2009, a four man crew, which included a 12 year old boy, and a 19 year old man, spent three hours trying to keep their fishing vessel, THE NAHANNI afloat after it grounded on Evans Island one mile from the village of Chenega Bay. Ultimately the 42 foot commercial purse seiner based in Juneau sank after taking on water.
According to the vessel owner, Ryan Rogers of Eugene, Oregon, the vessel had delivered a load of fish to its tender OCEAN BEAUTY. As the vessel was heading back out for more fishing through a narrow passage south of Chenega Bay, a current swung his vessel up against a steep rock and ripped a big hole in the bottom.
Rogers put out a distress call and his tender, and Icicle Seafoods tender and another fishing boat came around to help as did some workers from the Armin F. Koernig Salmon Hatchery. They were able to salvaged the crew's belongings including some gear but were not able to save THE NAHANNI from sinking.
The crew was rescued by Good Samaritan fishing boat, SEA WARRIOR, and taken to Chenega where they bunked at the salmon hatchery on Evans Island while waiting for the salvage crew and Coast Guard. No injuries are reported.
Coast Guard Rescues Three Crewmen Near New Jersey
Posted by: James M. Beard
August 12, 2009
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that they, along with the New York Fire Department, and Towboat US, all responded to a sinking vessel near Keansburg, New Jersey on August 7, 2009. Three mariners were rescued from the vessel, the name of which is unknown at this time. There is no indication of how many crewmembers were on board the vessel at the time of the sinking.
According to the Coast Guard, the vessel was taking on water at a high rate of speed and the engines were completely submerged by the time the rescue crew arrived. The source of the leak was unknown however, the Towboat US towed the boat out for inspection. Weather was reported at as 10 mph winds and two foot seas.
The maritime lawyers at BSTJ, LLP represent injured mariners throughout the nation in claims involving the Jones Act and General Maritime Law. For any questions regarding maritime law or injuries sustained while working aboard a vessel, contact us at 206.282.3100 or visit our website at http://www.atsealawyer.com/.
