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FISHING COMPANY OF ALASKA - ALASKA RANGER SINKS IN BERING SEA
Posted by: James Beard
March 24, 2008
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

Four crewmen have died and one is missing in the Bering Sea following the sinking of the ALASKA RANGER in the Bering Sea Marach 23, 2008. The 180 foot Alaska Ranger is a factory trawler owned by the Fishing Company of Alaska. The vessel developed rudder problems and began taking on water around 3:00 a.m., forcing the vessel's crew to abandon ship in survival suits and life rafts. The Coast Guard reports that 42 crewmen have been rescued, 13 of which were found in survival suits in 8-10 foots seas streching over a one mile area; other crewmen were successfully able to get into the ALASKA RANGER's life rafts. The accident happened approximately 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

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PACIFIC GLACIER CREW TRAINING PAYS OFF
Posted by: euser
March 07, 2008
Topic: Marine Safety

The Pacific Glacier, home ported in Seattle, made it back to Dutch Harbor under it's own power after a fire threatened to destroy it in the Bering Sea.

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SEARCH FOR THE TRANSITION CALLED OFF
Posted by: euser
March 07, 2008
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

Mike Dunne and Vern McGee are missing, along with the vessel "Transition." On February 22, 2008 the Coast Guard was notified, and a 6-day search began that covered 6700 square miles of water and shoreline. On the 27^th, a door from the Transition was found on Frederick Sound on Kupreanof Island.

Mike and Vern were on their way from Juneau to Ketchikan at the time of the incident. The search was officially called off on February 28^th, 2008.

Source: USGC Press Release

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"OPERATION SAFE CRAB" TO CONDUCT VESSEL SAFETY SPOT CHECKS
Posted by: euser
December 06, 2007
Topic: Marine Safety

The Coast Guard will be conducting safety spot checks, voluntary dockside exams, and offering basic safety training in various Northwest ports from November 26-28, 2007 as part of "Operation Safe Crab."

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EPIRB ASSISTS IN RESCUE IN SINKING OF LADY BLACKIE
Posted by: euser
December 06, 2007
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

Monday, November 26th, 2007: Lady Blackie, a 90 foot fishing vessel, began taking on water at about 4:45 am in Wide Bay in Shelikof Strait.

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M/S EXPLORER HITS ICE AND SINKS
Posted by: James Beard
December 06, 2007
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

On Friday, November 23, 2007 the Canadian cruise ship "M/S Explorer" began taking on water after hitting submerged ice off of Antarctica's South Shetland Islands.

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COMMERCIAL FISHING BOAT PAPA GEORGE SINKS, CAUSING DEATH OF TWO CREWMAN
Posted by: James M. Beard
September 05, 2007
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions

The United States Coast Guard has reported that on September 3, 2007 the Papa George, a sardine fishing vessel, sank 12 miles off the coast of the State of Washington. The Seattle Times reports that the United States Coast Guard has released the names of two of the five man crew including the captain, David Starbuck, and crewman Ethel Zelaya , who died in the sinking. Three crewmen were able to survive by abandoning ship into the vessel's skiff. The Coast Guard investigation into the sinking of the Papa George will be continuing.

This tragic accident demonstrates that commercial fishing remains one of the deadliest and most dangerous jobs in the world. The Coast Guard is reported to be investigating the possibility that the malfunctioning of a pump in the vessel's hold may have contributed to the vessel's loss. The Fishing Vessel Safety Act requires vessels such as the Papa George to have certain basic safety features, such as emergency electronic locating devices (EPIRBS), bilge pumps with check valves, and to participate regularly in safety drills. Early reports indicated the vessel did not issue a may day, and EPIRB's did not activate automatically notifying the Coast Guard of the sinking when the vessel sank.

Crewmen injured in fishing accidents may be entitled to compensation under Federal Maritime Laws including the Death on the High Seas Act and the Jones Act. Actions for maritime wrongful death may be brought in State or Federal Courts where the deceased crewmen's family members may make claims for negligence or unseaworthiness against the owners of the fishing vessel or crewman's employer.

Contact the experienced lawyers at Beard Stacey Trueb & Jacobsen to talk about you case, or visit our website for more basic information about maritime law and about our practice.

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FISHERMAN SUFFERS GRAPHIC EYE INJURY
Posted by: Joseph S. Stacey
August 20, 2007
Topic: Injury at Sea

A commercial fisherman offshore from Coos Bay, Ore. suffered a grisly fishing accident on Thursday. A large, commercial-size fishing hook somehow became lodged in the man's left eye, and was plunged so deeply that it protruded through his brow.

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COAST GUARD SEARCHING FOR FALLEN TANKER CREWMAN
Posted by: Joseph S. Stacey
August 06, 2007
Topic: Injury at Sea

A massive, multi-agency search continues for a tanker ship crewman who fell overboard 20 miles south of Ambrose Channel, the main shipping lanes to and from the Port of New York and New Jersey, at 10 a.m. Sunday.

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TOWING VESSEL ORDERED TO CEASE OPERATIONS AFTER CASUALTY; MASTER OF VESSEL IMPROPERLY LICENSED
Posted by: Joseph S. Stacey
August 01, 2007
Topic: Injury at Sea

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Miami, Capt. Karl L. Schultz, issued a Captain of the Port Order to the towing vessel Megan Garrett Friday, restricting the vessel from operation until conditions of the order are met.

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