The 22 meter long tug Christian 2 sank on the Maas River near Stevensweert, Netherlands. The Christian 2 was pushing a gravel barge when it began to list when it attempted to make a turn. The tug suffered water ingress and the vessel eventually sank. No reports of injuries. Reports state the tug had released a small amount of oil pollution when it sank. Owners stated that salvage work on the tug was slated to begin in two weeks when water levels drop on the Maas.
The 78 foot long fishing vessel Titan ran aground and later sank off the A-Jetty on the Columbia River near Ilwaco, Washington. The Titan had ran aground off the Jetty and began to take on water in the vessel’s engine room. The Titan sent out a distress call requesting assistance. The Coast Guard responded and dispatched a lifeboat from Cape Disappointment and a Jayhawk helicopter from Astoria to the scene. The lifeboat delivered a dewatering pump to the Titan, but it was unable to stop the flooding. The crew donned survival suits and lowered the vessel’s anchor in order to secure the vessel. The five crew of the Titan safely transferred over to the lifeboat and taken ashore. No reports of injuries. The Titan later sank leaving only a portion of the stern above water. Some 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel along with 40,000 to 50,000 pounds of crab were on board the Titan when it sank. Reports state an oil sheen was later spotted around the wreck. The owner of the Titan has arranged to have the fuel cleaned up and the fishing vessel salvaged. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident.
http://youtu.be/gXLA3VmzrqY
The 85 meter long, 1753 ton fishing boat 501 Oryong sank in the Bering Sea off the Chukotka Peninsula, Russia. The 501 Oryong had departed from Busan with 62 persons on board in July to fish in the Bering Sea. On December 1, the vessel was fishing pollock in stormy seas with waves reaching 5 to 6 meters in sub zero temperatures. As the crew pulled in nets, the 501 Oryong was struck by a large wave. The surge of water flooded the fishing boat’s storage areas causing the vessel to list. The master of the 501 Oryong sent out a distress call and ordered the crew to abandon ship. Five nearby fishing vessels responded to the scene. The trawler Carolina rescued five crew while the Zaliv Zabiyaka pulled another two men from the water. Another person was recovered, but later died from hypothermia. Reports state the remaining crew remains missing. The 501 Oryong was last reported at 62 17.05N 177 47.26E, but the vessel was stated to sink in Anadyr Bay. One of the survivors was reported to be a Russian inspector.
