On the morning of January 9, the fishing vessel VA 23 K sank in Kristiansandsfjord north of Grønningen Lighthouse, Norway. The fishing vessel had sprung a leak in the engine compartment which couldn’t be controlled. The VA 23 K requested assistance with the local fire brigade dispatching a fire boat to the scene. Attempts by the fire boat to de-water the fishing vessel failed and the VA 23 K sank. No reports of injuries.
On January 17, the fishing vessel Miss Sandy sank in the Atlantic Ocean some 7 nautical miles off Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts. The fishing vessel had suffered water ingress in the engine room. Unable to stop the flooding with over 4 feet of water in the engine room, the fishing vessel sent out a distress call requesting assistance. Within 30 minutes, the United States Coast Guard’s cutter William Chadwick (WPC-1150) had reached the Miss Sandy. Dewatering pumps were placed on board the fishing vessel and the crew was safely evacuated over to the cutter. The William Chadwick attached a towline and proceeded towards Gloucester. Unfortunately, the flooding increased and overwhelmed the pumps before the vessels reached port. The cutter dropped the towline just before the Miss Sandy sank. No reports of injuries.
On the morning of January 15, the 58 foot long fishing vessel Tanusha capsized and sank in the Gulf of Alaska 23 miles southeast of Kodiak, Alaska. Authorities received an alert from the Tanusha’s EPIRB and dispatched a Jayhawk helicopter to the scene. The nearby 31 meter long fishing vessel Victory (IMO: 9702376) also responded to the distress call and found the 2 crew of the Tanusha in a life raft. One crew member had suffered an injury and was suffering from hypothermia. The 2 crew would later be airlifted by a Jayhawk helicopter and taken to Kodiak for medical treatment.
Reports state the crew decided to abandon ship when the fishing vessel began to take on water. The cause of the water ingress was not disclosed. Authorities have not stated if the incident will be investigated.
A report states the vessel may have been fishing at the time of the incident as tanner crab season had started in the area.