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Maritime Injury Lawyer Blog

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The Coast Guard rescued two kayakers Friday when they became stranded after paddling from Juneau to Couverden Island.

A Response Boat-Medium from Juneau picked up the kayakers from the northern tip of Couverden Island at approximately 10 p.m., then brought them to where they were parked near Statter Harbor in Auke bay. There were no injuries reported.

The initial phone call from one of the kayakers at approximately 9:15 p.m. requesting assistance. The kayaker indicated that he and a male friend had become exhausted after an approximate 9-hour, 23-mile paddle in their 10-foot kayaks. He expressed concerns about running out of daylight, having no lifejackets, no exposure suits, no warm clothing, no food, water, no survival equipment, nor means of communication aside from a cell phone running low on battery.

“These kayakers made several all-too-common mistakes before heading out on the water yesterday,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Theodore Bach, Station Juneau response boat coxswain for the case. “They were lucky to have enough cell phone battery left to call for help. It is very common for boaters to head out on the water unprepared for the conditions. The water temperature is still frigid and the air temperatures at night still dip into the 30s. Hypothermia is just one way that Alaskan boaters die each spring.”

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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The Coast Guard medevaced a crewman Thursday from the 905ft Alskan Navigator approximately 170 miles southwest of Cold Bay.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Kodiak hoisted the sick crewman at about 8 a.m. and flew him to Cold Bay where he was placed in the care of an awaiting LifeMed aircraft crew.

Coast Guard received the request at about 1 p.m. Wednesday to hoist the 61-year-old man experiencing abdominal pain from the 905-foot, U.S.-flagged, motor vessel Alaskan Navigator that was en route from Valdez to China, and approximately 270 miles southwest of Unalaska.

The Coast Guard requested that the Alaskan Navigator change course in order to meet the Coast Guard helicopter for the hoist.

The aircrew launched from Kodiak Wednesday, landed in Cold Bay to refuel, and launched to conduct the medevac at first light Thursday.

by Tom Evans, Injury at Sea. Continue Reading

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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 rescued two kayakers Monday in Ketchikan after one of their kayaks sustained damage and took on water.

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco arrived on scene and recovered both kayakers along with their kayaks and returned them to their launch point at Mountain Point in Ketchikan. No injuries or medical concerns were reported.

The initial notification from a Metlakatla fish and wildlife officer reported the two female kayakers stranded on Race Point in Nichols Passage.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert mariners in the area and launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew with a skiff from Station Ketchikan. The crew of Bailey Barco was in the vicinity of the kayakers, arrived on scene first, and rendered assistance.

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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Two people were rescued early Saturday morning from their boat several miles off the coast of northwest Oregon.

A 56-year-old female and a 55-year-old male aboard a 44-foot recreational boat were beset by weather and had concerns about crossing the bar.

A Coast Guard 47-foot Motor LifeBoat arrived on scene at 3:45 p.m. and determined that it was unsafe to tow the vessel across the bar due to stability issues and deteriorating conditions. The crew instructed the boaters to don life jackets and remain offshore until weather improved. The rescue crew then returned to base. The boaters were kept on a communications schedule with the sector watchstanders.

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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