MARITIME CASUALTY - WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHY

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

A Coast Guard aircrew hoisted a pregnant crewmember from the Northern Jaeger, a 308-foot factory trawler, 200 miles northwest of St. Paul, Alaska, Saturday, and transported the passenger to commercial services in Cold Bay, and transferred her to a LifeMed flight team, who then transported the patient to higher medical care..

Saturday morning, a medevac request from the captain of the fishing vessel Northern Jaeger for a 22-year-old female crewmember reportedly experiencing medical complications due to pregnancy.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard and good Samaritans assisted a man whose fishing vessel, Clara, at 29-feet, was aground and taking on water in the vicinity of Hole in the Wall, approximately five miles southeast of Port Protection, Alaska, Tuesday.

The Coast Guard Cutter Kukui monitored the towing involving the fishing vessel Clara, a 29-foot fishing vessel, as it was safely towed by the good Samaritan fishing vessel Eric to Port Protection for further repairs.

At 1:50 a.m., Coast Guard received a call to request assistance for the Clara, aground and taking on water. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and diverted the Cutter Kukui crew to assist. Watchstanders also directed the launch of a Sitka helicopter crew to assist.

The helicopter aircrew arrived on scene and lowered two dewatering pumps and a rescue swimmer to the fishing vessel to assist in dewatering. Additionally, two good Samaritans arrived via skiff to assist with dewatering and vessel repairs.

A third good Samaritan, aboard the fishing vessel Eric, towed the Clara to Port Protection, where it was safely moored.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

The Coast Guard rescued one fisherman from a lifeboat early Tuesday morning after a 66-foot commercial fishing boat, the Arctic Fox II, took on water and was abandoned about 85 miles offshore from Cape Flattery with three people aboard.

Watchstanders at multiple Coast Guard units received a VHF radio call for help at about 2 a.m. from a crewman aboard the Canadian-based commercial fishing vessel Arctic Fox II reporting the vessel was taking on water and the three people aboard planned to abandon ship.

The fisherman who hailed for help reported they were wearing survival suits.

An helicopter crew from Columbia River and a surveillance search and rescue aircrew from Coast Guard Sacramento deployed to search for the fishermen.

On scene, Coast Guard aircrews immediately spotted the lifeboat with one survivor and hoisted him safety.

Canadian search and rescue aircrews with The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria are expected to join the search effort later this morning.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading