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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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A crew member aboard the fishing vessel Wonderland in Clarence Strait reportedly experienced severe abdominal pains and a medevac was requested at about 8:20pm.

The Coast Guard medevaced an ailing crew member from the fishing boat Wonderful northwest of Ketchikan, Monday. The 62-year-old was taken to Bar Harbor in Ketchikan and placed in the care of awaiting EMS at approximately 10:45 p.m.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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The Coast Guard suspended its search for a person in the water in Nushagak Bay, Monday.

Helicopter Hercules aircraft crews searched approximately 650 square miles over the course of more than ten hours for a male crew member from the commercial fishing vessel Pail Rider who went overboard at approximately 3 a.m.

The search was suspended at approximately 4 p.m.

“Despite our very best effort today along with about 10 fishing boat crews who helped us search, we were not able to locate the man who went overboard this morning,” said Ray Dwyer, Coast Guard 17th District command duty officer for the case. “After an exhaustive effort, the difficult decision was made to suspend.”

For the initial news release about the search, please visit: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/24ec425

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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The Coast Guard is searching for a crewman from the commercial fishing vessel Pail Rider who went overboard at approximately 3 a.m. in the water in Nushagak Bay, Monday.

The man was reportedly 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.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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Coast Guard medevaced a fisherman who lost consciousness aboard a charter fishing vessel near Seward, Tuesday.

The 61-year-old experiencing symptoms of a heart attack was lifted from the vessel Arctic Endeavor just off Cape Resurrection and brought to awaiting local EMS in Seward, where he was responsive and appeared to be in stable condition.

The captain of the Arctic Endeavor called for help about 10:30 a.m.

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 55-year-old skipper reportedly suffering from a heart attack was medevaced from the commercial fishing vessel Emerald Seas 20-miles west of Tillamook Bay, Thursday.

Coast Guard watchstanders at the Sector Columbia River Command Center received a distress call on the VHF-FM Radio Channel 16 at 1:13 p.m., from the Emerald Seas. A Coast Guard helicopter hoisted the man and transported him to emergency medical services at Tillamook Airport.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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A 22-year-old male with a reported hand injury was medically evacuated by Coast Guard aircrew from the 254 foot fishing vessel Phoenix near La Push, Wash., Tuesday.

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles medically evacuated the crew member from the 254-foot vessel Phoenix and transported him to Port Angeles where they met awaiting local Emergency Medical Service personnel.

At 11:28 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received an emergency call from a boater in the area. The boater reported the vessel was approximately 25 miles west of Coast Guard Station Quillayute River.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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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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The Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay Officer-in-Charge, Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Molloy, provided testimony for the Mary B II case yesterday.

Molloy’s testimony described the dangerous conditions of the sea during the evening of the capsizing incident.

Molloy said that it was dark and waves where up to 16-feet high. Two Coast Guard vessels tried to assist the Mary B II by using MK127 illumination flares to assist in visibility.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading