Articles Posted in Fishermen

The Coast Guard announced today a formal marine casualty investigation has been convened into the marine casualty of the commercial fishing vessel Coastal Reign which capsized February 20, 2021 resulting in the loss of two lives.

The crew of the 38-foot fishing vessel, Coastal Reign, were attempting to cross the Tillamook Bay Bar inbound when the vessel capsized with four crewmembers on board.

Coast Guard authorized the investigation pursuant to the authority contained in Title 46, United States Code, Section 6301 and the regulations thereunder.

Upon completion of the investigation, the Coast Guard will issue a report of investigation with collected evidence, established facts and conclusions and recommendations regarding these marine casualties.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

A Coast Guard helicopter medevaced a fisherman with severe leg injuries that were sustained aboard the Magnus Martens Wednesday in the Bering Sea, about 80 miles northeast of Dutch Harbor.

The helicopter crew aboard Cutter Alex Haley, used a rescue litter to hoist the badly injured crewman from the vessel Magnus Martens after he suffered a severe leg injury. He was flown Dutch Harbor where weather prevented normal transportation, so he was further transported by helicopter to Cold Bay into the care of Guardian Flight Alaska personnel for further transport to Anchorage.

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley received initial notification about the injured man while on patrol in the Bering Sea in the vicinity of Unimak Island.

The man was initially taken to Dutch Harbor to receive care, but needed to be taken to a higher level of care. The weather at the time did not allow a contracted provider to pick up the injured man in Dutch Harbor, so the Coast Guard helicopter crew flew him to Cold Bay for the transfer to Guardian Flight care.

“Due to the range from Dutch Harbor and because the fisherman’s severe injuries required additional time to place him in a rescue litter, the helicopter needed to refuel at sea,” said Lt. Wes Jones, aircraft commander for the case. “Helicopter in-flight refueling is an incredibly demanding and complex maneuver for both the cutter and the aircraft to increase on scene endurance. The combined teamwork of the crew aboard Alex Haley, the Magnus Martens, and the 17th District command center enabled us to get this man on a Guardian Flight aircraft headed to Anchorage to receive the care he needs.”

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard medevaced the chief engineer from a fishing vessel Frontier Spirit approximately 70 miles northwest of Saint Paul, Tuesday.

A helicopter crew from Kodiak safely hoisted the 43-year-old shortly after noon, and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services personnel in Saint Paul Island for transport to Anchorage.

The medevac request came direct from the fishing vessel Frontier Spirit for the chief engineer who was experiencing abdominal pain. A Coast Guard duty flight surgeon, recommended a medevac. The aircrew launched from Forward Operating Location Cold Bay.

On-scene weather conditions were 20 mph winds, 25 foot seas, and 10 miles visibility.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard rescued a 70-year-old man from the waters of Union Bay, Alaska, northwest of Meyers Chuck, Sunday.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted the man, who was in the water clinging to a piece of debris, and took him to awaiting emergency medical services in Ketchikan, Alaska. The man was reported to be in stable condition.

Watchstanders received a search and rescue satellite alert from the fishing vessel Irony at approximately 4:46 p.m. An air crew from Sitka and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa launched to conduct the search and rescue mission.

“Thankfully due to the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon we were able to locate the man in the water quickly,” said Nick Meyers the Sector Juneau command duty officer. “This allowed us to deploy our survival swimmer and hoist the man to safety to get him to further medical treatment.”

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

Coast Guard rescued three boaters Sunday whose vessels had become stuck in ice, approximately five miles northeast of Hole in the Wall Glacier on the Taku River.

A Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted all three boaters at about 8 p.m. from jet boats that were stuck in approximately one foot of ice, and transported them to Juneau Airport.

Sector Juneau command center received initial notification from the operator of good Samaritan vessel Nantucket, who reported two of the vessels stuck in ice at approximately 5 p.m. Watchstanders also received a call from a spouse of one of the boaters reporting the party overdue.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Juneau proceeded to Taku Inlet in order to relay communications and to support the helicopter crew.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The 55ft fishing vessel Elise Marie taking on water and disabled, six miles south of Icy Bay, Alaska, Wednesday.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew delivered a dewatering pump at about 9 p.m. The Elise Marie crew was able to use the pump to keep up with the flooding while they waited for further assistance.

Watchstanders received initial request for assistance from Elise Marie via an InReach device at approximately 7 p.m. and directed the launch of multiple units to assist, including the Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick.

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick arrived on scene Thursday at approximately 10:30 a.m., and took the Elise Marie in tow toward Yakutat.

Yakutat Police Department took over the tow of the Elise Marie near shore and the vessel arrived safely in Yakutat at 11:30 p.m., Thursday.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard medevaced a 26 year old crewman from the fishing vessel Defender Tuesday approximately 100 miles northwest of Cold Bay. The Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted the man at 6:55 a.m. and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services in Cold Bay for further transport to Anchorage.

Coast Guard received the request for the medevac from the fishing vessel Defender at approximately 7 p.m. Monday for a 26 year-old crew-member who was experiencing eye and head pain.

The Defender was 170 miles from Cold Bay during the initial call for help. A Jayhawk aircrew launched from the Forward Operating Location Cold Bay and diverted Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley as a secondary asset to assist if needed.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard rescued two fishermen, Tuesday, from a grounded fishing vessel, Reluctant, in Neka Bay, south of Hoonah.

The report was received at 8:30am and nearby Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick arrived on scene at approximately 8:34 a.m. A small boat crew launched to rescue the operator and crew from the fishing vessel Reluctant.

The impact of grounding risks injury to crewmen aboard. In this case, no injuries were reported.

The Reluctant was towed to Hoonah to be inspected for damage.

“Fortunately where the fishing vessel ran aground they were only three miles away from where our cutter, homeported in Ketchikan, was anchored and the radio communications were clear,” said Scott Cichoracki Sector Juneau command center watchstander. “We were able to quickly get a crew on scene to assist.”

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard medevaced a 40 year old injured crewman with a back injury from the 89 foot F/V Atlantico approximately 40 miles west of Cold Bay, Alaska, Wednesday.

The Coast Guard helicopter aircrew hoisted the injured crewman and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services in Cold Bay for further transport to Anchorage.

Details of the incident are not given but hazardous work conditions often contribute to slip and fall injuries that can have serious long term consequences.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading