Tag Archives: Coast Guard
USCG: Remain Upright by Fully Understanding Vessel Stability
The need for operators to understand their vessel’s Stability Instructions (SI) cannot be overstated. It is important to understand the document. Operators and crew should seek out opportunities to further their knowledge of stability via courses, training, workshops, and visits from Naval Architects. They should also take advantage of other various initiatives, both mandatory and voluntary, to discuss and compare a vessel’s current SI to the actual loaded condition prior to departing port. An independent review of a vessel’s loaded condition, equipment, and operations can often provide important insights. click here to read the story 10:21
USCG Calls For PLBs On EVERY Life Jacket
In the United States Coast Guard’s upcoming El Faro investigation report, Captain Jason Neubauer USCG, Chairman of the Marine Board of Investigation, will recommend that all Personal Flotation Devices on oceangoing commercial vessels be outfitted with a Personal Locator Beacon.,,, A PLB (personal locator beacon) is a specific type of EPIRB that is typically smaller, less expensive, has a shorter battery life and unlike a proper EPIRB is registered to a person rather than a vessel. click here to read the story 09:41
Coast Guard: Captain’s mistakes led to El Faro sinking
The U.S. Coast Guard has concluded mistakes by the captain of the El Faro led to the sinking of the cargo ship and the deaths of all 33 crew members in 2015. The Coast Guard’s final 199-page report was released on Sunday, two years to the day after the 800-foot vessel sunk near Crooked Island in the Bahamas. Capt. Michael Davidson sailed through rather than around Hurricane Joaquin and “failed to carry out his responsibilities and duties as captain of the vessel during the last eight hours before it sank,” the report concluded. click here to read the story 17:53
Coast Guard seeks to punish El Faro owner in final report issued Sunday – The U.S. Coast Guard released a full report Sunday click here to read the story with report
Coast Guard medevaced fisherman suffering possible heart attack off Reedsport, Ore.
Coast Guard crews medevaced a man suffering from symptoms of a possible heart attack from a fishing vessel 18 miles off Reedsport, Friday night. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend were contacted around 8 p.m. by the fishing vessel Leann crew. The crew reported one of their deckhands was suffering a possible heart attack and requested assistance, the Coast Guard boat crew and aircrew launched in response. The aircrew lowered their rescue swimmer onto the fishing vessel and then both swimmer and deckhand transferred to the motor life boat. Once transferred to EMS personnel on shore, the deckhand was taken to Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay. -USCG- 15:37
Coast Guard rescues 2 fishermen off Nash Island, Maine
The Coast Guard rescued two fishermen off Nash Island, Maine, Thursday, after their lobster boat became disabled when a swell pushed the vessel onto a rock causing them to swim to shore. At 5:40 p.m., a concerned neighbor called watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Jonesport reporting that his neighbors went fishing at 11 a.m. in a 21-foot white lobster boat and were due back by 1 p.m., but they hadn’t returned. click here to read the story 14:31
Coast Guard rescues 2 after fishing vessel takes on water near Coos Bay, Oregon
A Coast Guard 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Coos Bay assisted the fishing vessel Car Tanya, Sunday evening. The boat crew successfully dewatered and towed the 58-foot fishing vessel 13 miles back to Coos Bay. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a request for assistance from the mariners aboard the vessel at 5:42 p.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water and losing power. At approximately 10 p.m., the boat crew moored up the fishing vessel in Coos Bay and conducted a post-Search and Rescue boarding, resulting in a termination order due to multiple discrepancies found aboard the vessel. click here to read the story 11:35
Coast Guard medevacs injured fisherman in Pamlico Sound
The Coast Guard medevaced an injured fisherman in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, Thursday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina in Wilmington received a call on VHF-FM channel 16 at about 5:55 p.m., reporting that a 53-year-old deckhand aboard the 83-foot fishing vessel Chasity Brooke injured his hand about 10 miles east of Hobucken, North Carolina. Sector North Carolina watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a Coast Guard 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew from Station Hobucken to assist. –USCG–
Tarpon Springs boat captain returns after fateful encounter with Irma
The captain had few words to say after he got off the airplane, but most of them were about his former deckhand. “Carl Sheperd was the best man, best friend,” Capt. Edward Potter said. “I can’t say anything more … but I love that man.” It was just weeks before that the men had set off on Potter’s shrimp boat, the Capt. Eddie, from Pelican Point Seafood in Tarpon Springs for a shrimping trip to the Florida Keys. About a week into their journey, Hurricane Irma developed and came barreling west toward the Florida Straits. Potter, 61, on just the start of what is typically a 30- to 40-day excursion, thought they could outrun it. But the storm caught up with them, pummeling the boat, the two men on board and their feline passenger, Motorboat. Only Potter made it back alive. click here to read the story 23:16
Coast Guard rescues five Fishermen from sunken boat east of Cape Charles
US Coast Guard crews rescued five people Monday after their boat sank 60 miles east of Cape Charles. Coast Guard officials say watchstanders in Elizabeth City were alerted to the situation by an emergency beacon from the fishing boat Langley Douglas. A Jayhawk helicopter crew already in the area was diverted to the beacon. Officials say the crew found the boat had sunken, and everyone on board was in the water. video, click here to read the story 10:20
Coast Guard urges mariners to contact watchstanders by phone during VHF outages
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard requests mariners in life-threatening situations along Florida’s Gulf Coast contact Coast Guard watchstanders by phone during the absence or degradation of VHF radio communications caused by Hurricane Irma. Mariners unable to reach the Coast Guard by VHF radio should use contact Sector St. Petersburg Command Center at 727-896-6187 or 727-896-6188 until radio signals improve or are restored. -USCG- 23:17
Coast Guard Medevacs Man from Fishing Vessel 154 Miles East of Kodiak, Alaska
A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a crewman from the fishing vessel Cape Greig 154 miles east of Kodiak, Tuesday. The Jayhawk crew safely hoisted the ill crewman and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical personnel in Kodiak. Coast Guard District 17 Command Center watchstanders in Juneau received notification from Discovery Health Partners stating the 50-year-old crewman was experiencing symptoms of appendicitis. Watchstanders briefed the duty flight surgeon who recommended a medevac. –USCG– watch video click here 12:48
Coast Guard capture images of daily operations in support of Hurricane Harvey
A recently rescued Texas resident overlooks the tarmac of Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Aug. 27, 2017. The Coast Guard partners with local Emergency Operations Centers and established an Incident Command Post to manage search and rescue operations. click here for more images 16:46
Coast Guard responding to a fishing vessel fire near Gabriola Island
Rescue crews are responding after a fishing boat caught fire off the coast of Gabriola Island. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre confirmed several rescue vessels were en route to the vessel, on the north side of Entrance Island about a kilometre northeast of Gabriola.,,, Sources say that five people aboard the 22-metre vessel “Sea Valley II” were transported safely click here to read the story 21:09
Vessel Fire near Gabriola Island – Update – A fishing vessel caught fire near Gabriola Island on the evening of Thursday, August 30, 2017. The vessel was under tow, moving from Petersburg, Alaska to Bellingham, Washington click here to read update 13:33
Coast Guard medevacs man from fishing vessel near Cold Bay, Alaska
A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a crewman from the fishing vessel Unimak, a 183-foot fishing trawler, near Cold Bay, Alaska, Friday. The Jayhawk crew safely hoisted the ill crewman from the Unimak, which was 46 miles northwest of Cold Bay, at 8:52 p.m. and transported him to emergency medical personnel at the Cold Bay Clinic at approximately 9 p.m. Coast Guard District 17 Command Center watchstanders in Juneau received notification from Health Force Partners stating a Unimak crewman had symptoms of dizziness and weakness, along with general confusion. A Coast Guard flight surgeon recommended a medevac. click here to watch video 09:14
Coast Guard medevacs fisherman off Hampton Harbor, NH
A Coast Guard Station Merrimack River boat crew medevaced a fisherman Friday evening, 6 miles east of Hampton Harbor, New Hampshire. A crewmember aboard the fishing boat Patricia Lynn radioed the Coast Guard for assistance at around 6:45 p.m., stating another crewmember was experiencing symptoms characteristic of a heart attack. A Coast Guard Station Merrimack River 29-foot rescue boat crew heard the call while underway in the area and diverted to assist. The Coast Guard crew took the 30-year-old-man on their boat and brought him to Hampton Harbor State Pier where emergency medical services personnel were waiting. –USCG– 08:13
Coast Guard searches for fisherman last seen on fishing vessel near Port Fourchon
The Coast Guard is searching for a person who was last seen aboard a fishing vessel approximately 30 miles southwest of Port Fourchon, Louisiana, Thursday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at approximately 8 a.m. that a man had gone missing aboard the fishing vessel How You Doing 2 and was last seen by crew members at 4 a.m. click here The Coast Guard has determined the identity of the missing person to be Roy Kerwood, Thursday. Anyone with information regarding the missing person’s location is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector New Orleans at (504) 365-2200. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at approximately 8 a.m. that a man had gone missing aboard the fishing vessel How You Doing 2 and was last seen by crew members at 4 a.m. –USCG– 06:58
Coast Guard hosts meeting to decrease oil spills in New Bedford harbor
The Coast Guard, Massachusetts’ Department of Environmental Protection, the New Bedford Harbor Development Council and the Fairhaven Harbormaster agreed that 95 percent of the oil pollution in the harbor is caused by about 5 percent of the vessels using it. For two hours Tuesday, the organizations led a meeting targeting those who illegally dump oil into the harbor. However, the fishermen who attended the meeting likely aren’t the ones polluting. “As soon as somebody gets caught and they get hit with the a fine, that’s going to turn some people’s heads,” Ed Anthes Washburn, director of the port and HDC, said. click here to read the story 08:50
Coast Guard medevacs stabbed crewmen from a fishing vessel 40 miles south of Pensacola
The Coast Guard medevaced two men who were reportedly stabbed aboard a fishing vessel 40 miles south of Pensacola, Florida, Sunday. Coast Guard Sector Mobile watchstanders received a report of two crewmembers reportedly being stabbed by a third crewmember aboard the commercial fishing vessel Billy B. Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 helicopter aircrew, the Coast Guard Cutter Kingfisher crew, and a Coast Guard Station Pensacola 45-foot Response-Boat Medium boatcrew with Sector Mobile Enforcement personnel aboard. The Kingfisher arrived on scene at 8:46 p.m. and brought the two crewmembers aboard. The MH-65 helicopter crew arrived on scene at 9:49 p.m. and hoisted the men and transferred them to Pensacola Baptist Hospital. One crewmember was reported in stable condition and the other in critical condition. The boatcrew detained the third crewmember and took the Billy B in tow en route to Perdido Pass, Alabama, with the Kingfisher as an escort. The incident is under investigation. –USCG– 13:03
Abandoned wooden fishing vessel plagues island off Bristol
Thirty years before it washed up on Jimmy Ellsworth’s island shoreline as a rusted derelict, The Columbia was the Maine-built pride of the man credited with helping to jump-start one of New England’s largest modern fisheries. It was the last of a generation of wooden “draggers” that bridged the gap between the age of sail-powered fishing schooners and the rise of steel ships. But by the time Ellsworth saw it drifting toward his property, the 90-foot long F/V Columbia was a hulk without a home after being kicked out of two local harbors. click here to read the story 10:28
Coast Guard makes a push to curb harbor oil spills
Coast Guard Lt. Lynn Schrayshuen along with Marine Science Technician Third Class John Northrup peered into the dark water alongside Coal Pocket Pier at the city waterfront, looking for the tell-tale rainbow sheen of an oil spill. On this recent morning, they came up pretty much empty, with the exception of a small patch of oil alongside the hull of a fishing boat, too little and too dispersed after time elapsed to make an effective sample. It is not always this good. The previous morning, Northrup said, there were three spills that he discovered. In past years, there have been spills of hundreds of gallons of oil. Sometimes the Department of Environmental Protection or the Coast Guard can trace the spills, but oftentimes not. click here to read the story 18:41
Unified command established in response to potential sinking of fishing vessel Akutan
The U.S. Coast Guard, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the city of Unalaska established a unified command in response to potential pollution from the fishing vessel Akutan near Unalaska, Alaska, Friday. Personnel from Coast Guard Sector Anchorage, the State of Alaska, the city of Unalaska and Resolve Marine Services, a salvage and repair company, are coordinating and overseeing the removal of environmental hazards, including anhydrous ammonia and various petroleum products onboard the fishing vessel Akutan. The unified command determined the steps taken by the vessel owner and operator as inadequate to prevent a potential pollution incident. The approximately 166-foot fishing vessel began transiting to Dutch Harbor from Bristol Bay earlier this month. Due to various mechanical issues the vessel anchored in Captains Bay where it remains, deteriorating. click here to read the press bulletin 12:36
Coast Guard issues order requiring approved salvage plan for grounded fishing vessel in Estero Bluffs State Park
The Coast Guard directed the owner of the commercial fishing vessel, Point Estero, to submit a salvage plan before making any arrangements to refloat the grounded vessel near Estero Bluffs State Park Thursday evening. The Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach commander, Capt. Charlene Downey, instructed the owner to submit a plan detailing actions to be taken by the owner to make the vessel seaworthy for safe transit to a facility to affect permanent repairs for approval by a local Coast Guard representative. After the Point Estero grounded July 28, the Coast Guard removed approximately 91 gallons of oil, 2.5 cubic yards of contaminated material and two marine-grade batteries to prevent pollution. -USCG-
Coast Guard medevacs fisherman off Manasquan Inlet, NJ
The Coast Guard medevaced a fisherman suffering chest pains approximately five-miles off Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey, today. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay were notified via radio, of a 49-year old man aboard a fishing boat, F/V Miss AM, who was reportedly suffering shortness of breath and chest pains at 2:30 p.m. A Coast Guard 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Station Manasquan Inlet responded, took the man aboard and brought him to awaiting emergency medical services at Station Manasquan Inlet. –USCG– 17:53
Coast Guard medevacs injured fisherman 50 miles east of Gloucester
An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod medevaced a 37-year-old man from the fishing boat Orion Tuesday after he suffered a severe hand injury while about 50 miles east of Gloucester. Another Orion fisherman used a VHF radio to hail for help and report the man’s glove caught on a line going into a winch, and he suffered a severe hand injury. The helicopter crew diverted from a search and rescue training event in Boston Harbor to help the injured man. After hoisting the man from the fishing boat onto the helicopter, he was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital where his care was transferred to awaiting medical personnel. -USCG- 17:31
Coast Guard delivers dewatering pumps, saves boat and crew 66 miles west of Tillamook Head
The Coast Guard delivered three dewatering pumps, Tuesday morning to a commercial fishing vessel taking on water 66 miles west of Tillamook Head saving the boat and the crew, and is currently towing the vessel toward the Columbia River entrance. A boat crew aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment, located in Ilwaco, Washington, is towing the fishing vessel Pura Vida and its three person crew and has an estimated time of arrival to the Columbia River of 6 p.m., Tuesday. Coast Guard watchstanders in the Sector Columbia River command center received a mayday call from the captain of the Pura Vida, a 48-foot commercial fishing vessel at 3:36 a.m., reporting the emergency situation and reported all crewmembers were wearing life jackets. The Captain also reported the vessel is equipped with a life raft and survival suits. A second pump was delivered from the commercial fishing vessel Western Edge, a good Samaritan vessel on scene. USCG click here for video 17:18
F/V Destination – Day 1: Investigation Hearing begins
In Seattle on Monday, the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board began two weeks of testimony into the sinking. Monday was spent questioning the ship’s owner, 68-year-old David Wilson. The experienced fisherman, who hired Captain Jeff Hathaway back in 1993, recounted documents recapping the safety drills and briefings given to all crew before the season began. Larry O’Grady, Raymond Vincler, Darrik Seibold, Charles Jones and Kai Hamik were all on board with Hathaway. All presumed lost. Earlier this summer, the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy spent days over the wreck and found the vessel sitting upright in 240 feet of water listing to the port. On Monday morning, Wilson was asked about maintenance issues — including a discussion, he had with the ship’s captain by phone while in Alaska. click here to read the story Todays proceedings can be reviewed click here, and the hearing restart at 09:00 tomorrow, using that link. 20:06
Coast Guard rescues two fishermen in distress near Coos Bay, Ore.
The Coast Guard rescued two fishermen after their vessel was engulfed in flames 20 miles west of the Cape Blanco light near Coos Bay, Oregon, Saturday. A Coast Guard Station Chetco River 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew met the fishermen, who had abandoned the 47-foot fishing vessel Beverly B into a life raft, and transported them and their raft to port in Brookings, Oregon. Sector North Bend watchstanders received the report of the fishermen in distress from Station Coos Bay, who were notified by a volunteer light keeper at the Cape Blanco light, stating that a fishing vessel was on fire. Watchstanders directed the launch of Sector North Bend MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, who arrived on scene to find the fishermen in their life raft, and lowered a rescue swimmer to assess the situation. The 47-foot MLB crew arrived on scene shortly thereafter. The vessel was reported to be completely engulfed in flames and partially submerged -USCG- 22:38
Coast Guard, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office assist 3 fishermen sinking off Gasparilla Pass
The Coast Guard and Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office assisted three men Wednesday after their boat started sinking 4 miles west of Gasparilla Pass. Assisted were: Sherman Williams, 66 Frank Williams, 33 Justin Mahaffy, 31 Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a report at 6:28 p.m. Tuesday from the Charlotte County Dispatch stating three people aboard the Salty Lady, a 52-foot fishing boat, were taking on water and they were in need of emergency assistance 4 miles west of Gasparilla Pass. A 29-foot Response Boat-Medium (RBM) boat crew from Coast Guard Station Cortez and the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat stationed at Sector St. Petersburg, launched to assist. A Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office marine unit crew arrived at 7:38 p.m and assisted with dewatering the boat. The boat crew aboard the Seahawk arrived at 8:22 p.m. and the RBM arrived at 10:12 p.m. to join the dewatering efforts.
At 1:19 a.m. Wednesday, the boat crews determined they were not able to keep up with the flooding to safely tow the Salty Lady crew. All three boaters were transferred to the RBM. The boaters were transported to Venice Inlet at 1:52 a.m. Wednesday where family members were waiting. No injuries were reported. The owner is making arrangements to have the Salty Lady towed to Boca Grande. 2 more images click -USCG- 21:11
Coast Guard medevacs 43-year-old fisherman 25-miles south of Shinnecock Inlet
The Coast Guard medevaced a 43-year-old man from a fishing vessel 25-miles south of Shinnecock Inlet, New York, Tuesday. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound watchstanders received a notification at 1:50 a.m., of a crewmember aboard a fishing vessel (F/V Ashton Matthew) who was suffering from shortness of breath and tightening in his chest. A Coast Guard Station Shinnecock 47-foot Motor Life Boat (MLB) crew got underway at 2:30 a.m., and arrived on scene less than an hour later. Members of the boat crew brought the 43-year-old man from the fishing vessel aboard the Coast Guard MLB, then transported him to Station Shinnecock where he was then safely transferred to a local EMS crew. -USCG-18:11
Coast Guard responds to sunken vessel off Grays Harbor, Wash.
Coast Guard personnel responded to a 42-foot commercial fishing vessel after it sank while moored in the Hoquiam River off Grays Harbor, Washington, Wednesday. Global Diving and Salvage personnel placed containment boom around the sunken vessel Wednesday night and removed an estimated 200 gallons of marine diesel from the fuel tanks Thursday morning. Watchstanders at sector received a report at 3:40 p.m. from Hoquiam Police Department personnel that the vessel Perwyn, with a max potential of 800 gallons of diesel aboard, had sunk and there was a sheen on the surrounding water. Members from the Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Incident Management Division opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for up to $50,000 and contracted Global Diving and Salvage marine casualty responders for cleanup purposes. Absorbent boom has been left in place and members of the Washington Department of Ecology will continue to monitor the site. –USCG– 19:19
