Merchant Mariner

Coast Guard continues Ready to Serve

May 1, 2020 | by Injury at Sea

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

RCN Crewman slip and fall injury

November 16, 2019 | by Injury at Sea

A crewman aboard the 181-foot Royal Canadian Navy Ship HMCS Nanaimo, transiting the northern section of Admiralty Inlet, sustained a head injury and symptoms of concussion after taking a fall. US Coast Guard crews hoisted the injured man from the Canadian naval vessel , Friday.

The crew of the Nanaimo reported that the man had a laceration on his head and showed signs of a concussion. The command center diverted a Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew conducting training exercises nearby the location of the HMCS Nanaimo.

The aircrew, with the help of the Canadian crew members, put the injured man into a basket and hoisted him into the helicopter. The injured man was transported to Harbor View Medical Hospital, he was then transferred by ambulance to Virginia Mason Hospital to receive medical care.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

Delong Dock Fire – one person missing from F/V Anagalik

July 10, 2019 | by Injury at Sea

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

Cut leads to spasms from untreated tetanus infection aboard Nordic Stavanger

June 6, 2019 | by Injury at Sea

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.

Crane Death investigation reports inadequate training and complacency

May 21, 2019 | by Injury at Sea

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

Crewman exposed to Phosphene Gas

April 7, 2019 | by Injury at Sea

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

Coast Guard Officer killed by Crane

February 2, 2019 | by Injury at Sea

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.”

Crewman burned aboard Bulk Carrier Ever Living

September 25, 2018 | by Injury at Sea

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.

Crewman with Stroke medevaced from DL Lavender

September 18, 2018 | by Injury at Sea

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.

Crewman overboard from Cruise Ship Amsterdam

August 3, 2018 | by Injury at Sea

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.