MARITIME CASUALTY - WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHY

Our mission is to investigate and discover the facts and real reason for marine casualties what really happened and why. For years we have gone beyond the headlines and looked for real answers.

Articles Posted in Merchant Mariner

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Coast Guard crews are searching by air and sea for one person missing after a midnight explosion and subsequent fire at Delong Dock in Whittier, Alaska, Monday.

An explosion reportedly occurred on a fixed barge, and the fire spread to the pier and then to the F/V Anagalik, a 99-foot commercial fishing vessel that was initially reported to have two people aboard at the time of the explosion. Whittier Police Department personnel have since confirmed one of those two is safely aboard a different vessel en route to Whittier.

By 2:50 a.m., Whittier Fire Department personnel confirmed the fire extinguished.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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An injured seaman who had cut himself reportedly suffered upper-body spasms possibly due to a tetanus infection and was airlifted by Coast Guard to emergency medical services in Warrenton.

The medevac request from the motor vessel Nordic Stavanger reported a 26-year-old male Ukrainian crewmember suffering from spasms believed to be linked to a laceration suffered 2 days prior that was not treated for Tetanus. The ship was approximately 100 miles southwest of the Columbia River entrance at the time. The aircrew rendezvoused with the Nordic Stavanger 72 miles offshore, hoisted the seaman and transferred him to EMS and to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria for treatment.

By Tom Evans, Injury at Sea.

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The U.S. Coast Guard released the results of an investigation Tuesday, into the Jan. 31 crane accident in the Coast Guard buoy yard in Homer, which resulted in the death of Chief Warrant Officer Michael Kozloski.

The investigation found improper operation of the shoreside crane was the direct cause of the mishap. The investigation further revealed leadership deficiencies aboard the Cutter Hickory which contributed to inadequate crewmember training and complacency with shoreside operations.

Rear Adm. Matthew T. Bell Jr., commander of the 17th Coast Guard District, temporarily relieved the commanding officer of Homer-based Cutter Hickory citing a loss of confidence in the officer’s ability to perform his duties.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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Coast Guard medically evacuated a 29-year-old crewman from a 665-foot commercial freighter, Great Fluency, in the Straight of Juan De Fuca, Washington, Sunday morning.

The man was reportedly exposed to phosphene gas and was safely transported to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles for further medical attention.

At approximately 7:20 a.m., Coast Guard District 13 watch standers received a notification from the Great Fluency that a member of their crew had been exposed to phosphene gas, a common chemical aboard vessels of this type.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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A Coast Guard officer assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Hickory (WLB-212) died at the Coast Guard buoy yard in Homer, Alaska, Thursday.

Chief Warrant Officer, Michael Kozloski, was injured by a crane while working in the buoy yard. Local emergency medical services personnel performed CPR and transported him to South Peninsula Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Kozloski was a 35-year-old, from Mahopac, New York.

Rear Adm. Matthew T. Bell Jr., Coast Guard 17th District commander, said “Chief Warrant Officer Kozloski faithfully served his country for over 17 years and we are forever grateful for his steadfast devotion to duty and sacrifices.”

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Friday evening a Crew member aboard the Ever Living suffered burns while working on the ship’s incinerator.

A Coast Guard helicopter medevaced a 28-year-old crew member from the 1,099-foot bulk carrier Ever Living 57 miles southeast of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Saturday, to awaiting LifeMed personnel in Dutch Harbor for further care and transport to Anchorage.

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A 48 year old crewmember having likely suffered a stroke was transported from the 590-foot bulk carrier DL Lavender 92 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Tuesday.

The Coast Guard helicopter aircrew hoisted and transported a 48-year-old crew member from the DL Lavender to awaiting LifeMed personnel in Dutch Harbor for further care and transport to Anchorage.

To achieve this long distance medevac the DL Lavender master was instructed to transit toward Dutch Harbor to reduce the distance. A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew delivered a Kodiak-based rescue swimmer Monday evening to an awaiting Dolphin helicopter aircrew in Dutch Harbor. Additionally, an MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew was on stand-by in Cold Bay with a second HC-130 aircrew launched to provide communications coverage during the medevac.

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A 35-year-old crewman is reported overboard from the 780-foot cruise ship Amsterdam in Sitka Sound, Alaska.

The Coast Guard aircrew arrived to Sitka Sound, off Biorka Island at 1 a.m., to begin the search. Weather on scene was 43 mph winds, heavy fog, seas 6-8 feet, a water temperature of 55 degrees.

Coast Guard Sector was notified at 9 p.m., Thursday by the Amsterdam reporting the man missing after he did not show up for his shift. The master was made aware of the missing man at 7:45 p.m., having last been seen at 6pm. The Amsterdam crew made extensive searches of the vessel, and turned the vessel around toward its last known position to search the water but have since continued their voyage toward Victoria, British Columbia.

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A serious dockside incident killed one dockworker and injured others at the Port of Longview Terminal 5, in Washington, early Thursday morning.

Reportedly a mooring line parted killing one dockworker, seriously injuring the vessel’s chief officer and injuring two others.

A report was received from the motor vessel Ansac Splendor at 1:46 a.m., reporting that a mooring line parted while the vessel was shifting at berth to facilitate the loading of cargo.

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A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter crew medevaced the 61 year old captain experiencing possible symptoms of a stroke. from the 83-foot tugboat Maia H Wednesday morning 34 miles east of Sitka in Chatham Strait, Alaska.

They transferred him safely to awaiting emergency medical personnel in Sitka for further medical care.

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