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Articles Posted in Fishermen

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Operational flights of Coast Guard aircraft continue as required, and crews and aircraft are ready to respond to any requests for assistance.

During the planning phase of every search and rescue or medical evacuation mission, Coast Guard District 17 follows protocols to determine potential survivor exposure to COVID-19. Air Station Kodiak maintains appropriate personal protective equipment for aircrews during missions and has decontamination procedures and equipment for the crews and aircraft upon their landing. This capability is deployable anywhere Coast Guard aircraft can land.

Kodiak Coast Guard personnel and their families remain focused on the health and well-being of the entire Kodiak community, especially during this pandemic crisis. Many Coast Guard family members are actively serving the local community as doctors, nurses, and other front line healthcare providers. Many Coast Guard dependents are serving as teachers and educators providing essential online education to the Kodiak community.

Active Duty members and their families are actively volunteering in the community by providing meals, delivering groceries, sewing cloth masks, and providing financial support to those in need.

Coast Guard senior leaders also are members of the Kodiak Emergency Services Committee and the Kodiak Economic Task Force, as well as serving as part of the Kodiak Incident Command System.

Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak remains ready to serve Alaskans and the United States, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a possible person in the water near Dutch Harbor. Still missing is 33-year-old Steven Mencer, last seen wearing a neon green pullover rain jacket with orange and black pants.

Mencer was reported missing at approximately 8:25 a.m. when he failed to report to crew check-in aboard the 164-foot fishing vessel Alaska Mist, moored at the Coastal Transportation Northern Dock in Dutch Harbor. Mencer was last seen at sea aboard the vessel approximately 45 minutes prior to being reported missing.

Coast Guard boat and aircrews searched a total of 63 square miles for Mencer over approximately 7.4 hours.

“After an exhaustive effort today, we suspended our search for Mr. Mencer at 8:20 p.m.,” said Lt. Danny Piazza, the 17th District command duty officer at the time of suspension. “Despite our best efforts, we were already at a disadvantage due to the water temperature and reports that Mr. Mencer was not wearing a PFD. Our thoughts are with Mr. Mencer’s family and friends.”

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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The Coast Guard is searching for a person in the water near Dutch Harbor Alaska, Thursday. Missing is 33-year-old Steven Mencer, last seen wearing a neon green pullover rain jacket with orange and black pants.

Mencer was reported missing after failing to report to crew check-in while the Alaska Mist, a 164-foot fishing vessel, was moored at Coastal Transportation Northern Dock, Thursday.

The master of Alaska Mist notified Coast Guard at 8:28 a.m., Thursday. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the 17th District command center at (907) 463-2000.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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Coast Guard medevaced an injured 49 year old fisherman with a serious finger injury liable to infection Saturday from F/V Alaskan Dream southwest of Kodiak Island. The Coast Guard duty flight surgeon was concerned at risk for infection for what would on the surface seem to be a non-major injury.

The Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted the 49-year-old man from the 58-foot fishing vessel Alaskan Dream at about 1:15 p.m. and transported him to Air Station Kodiak and delivered to awaiting local Emergency Medical Services.

The call from the Alaskan Dream was at about 9 a.m., reporting that a crew member had sustained a serious injury to his finger, approximately 170 miles southwest of Kodiak. The Coast Guard duty flight surgeon was concerned at risk for infection in any such injury, and recommended the medevac.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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Coast Guard medevaced a crewman with severe burns from the F/V Bountiful about 46 miles southwest of Saint Paul.

The helicopter crew from Kodiak hoisted the 43-year-old man around 3 p.m. and transferred him to awaiting emergency medical services personnel in Saint Paul for transport to Anchorage.

The medevac request from fishing vessel Bountiful came in about 10 am for a crew1member with severe burns. After conducting a brief with the Coast Guard duty flight surgeon, watchstanders directed the launch of the helicopter crew.

Further information about the cause of the injuries is not yet available.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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A Coast Guard aircrew and two boatcrews are searching for three fishermen near the entrance to Coos Bay after finding the 38-foot fishing vessel Pacific Miner, capsized Tuesday evening on the jetty tips.

The capsized fishing vessel Pacific Miner, reportedly had three men aboard when it capsized.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin aircrew, flying on a routine training flight, spotted the capsized fishing vessel and reported it to the Sector North Bend Command Center. Shortly after receiving the report the Coast Guard received an EPIRB transmission automatically activated when it was submerged in water. The EPIRB was registered to the fishing vessel Pacific Miner.

The Pacific Miner reportedly has approximately 300 crab on board.

The Coos Bay bar reported conditions 8 to 12-foot breaking waves with low winds and four miles visibility.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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Coast Guard suspended the search for five missing fishermen in the waters near Sutwik Island, Alaska.

The search spanned over 20 hours, 1,400 square miles and included: 4 helicopter crews, 2 Hercules airplane crews, and Coast Guard Cutter Mellon (WHEC 717)

“The decision to suspend an active search and rescue case is never easy, and it’s only made after careful consideration of a myriad of factors,” said Rear Adm. Matthew Bell, 17th District Commander. “Our deepest condolences to the friends and families impacted by this tragedy.”

Watchstanders at the 17th District Command Center in Juneau were notified of a mayday call via High Frequency radio on Tuesday evening from the fishing vessel Scandies Rose, which capsized and sank approximately five miles southeast of Sutwik Island.

MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and HC-130 Hercules airplane crews launched from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak. The Jayhawk helicopter crew arrived on-scene and rescued two survivors from a life raft. The survivors were taken to the hospital in Kodiak, where they are reported to be in stable condition.

After careful consideration of survival probability, the Coast Guard suspends an active search pending new information or developments.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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The 40-foot Darean Rose capsized and sank shortly after leaving the fuel pier at the Charleston Marina, North Bend, with four people aboard who reported sustaining minor injuries.

Reportedly the vessel had run aground and capsized after departing the fuel dock pier.

A Coast Guard Boat-Small crew responded to the scene and rescued the four individuals from the vessel.

The survivors were transferred back to the pier and treated by emergency medical service technicians.

The vessel has an estimated maximum potential of 1,200 gallons of diesel fuel on board.

Coast Guard personnel from the Sector Columbia River Emergency Management Division have responded to the potential for environmental pollution by deploying hard boom and absorbent pads.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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Coast Guard evacuated a 19 year old fisherman suffering from a significant knife wound from the Canadian-flagged commercial fishing vessel Ocean Pearl operating 50 miles west off Neah Bay, WA, Saturday afternoon.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Port Angeles safely hoisted the 19-year-old crewman and transferred him to emergency medical services at the Coast Guard base for transport to Olympic Medical Center for further care. The fisherman reportedly suffered a knife wound in the leg, which needed more extensive medical care than the Ocean Pearl boatcrew could provide.

The medevac request came from the captain of the 110-foot fishing vessel Ocean Pearl at about 1 p.m. The aircrew arrived on scene at 2:14 p.m. conducted the hoist and transferred patient care to EMS at 3:23 p.m

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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The search is on for a fishing boat crewman from F/V Pail Rider, home ported from Dillingham, in the water in Nushagak Bay, in the early morning hours of Monday. Coast Guard reported up to 10 good Samaritan vessels are assisting.

Coast Guard and others are searching for a male crew member from the commercial fishing vessel Pail Rider who went overboard at approximately 3 a.m.

The crewman was not wearing a life jacket, but was wearing orange pants and bib. The crew aboard the Pail Rider fired flares and other vessels arrived on scene to assist with the search. Approximately 10 good Samaritan fishing vessels are on scene assisting with the search.

Ray Dwyer, Coast Guard 17th District command duty officer for the case said “Going overboard without a life jacket greatly reduces the likelihood of survival, especially in cold water. But with the help of all the good Samaritan crews out there, we’re doing everything we can.”

Conditions in Nushagak Bay at the time the man entered the water included a water temperature of 52 degrees and an air temperature of 54 degrees.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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