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Tag: United States Coast Guard

Sea Ranger

Sea Ranger

Sea Ranger
Photo: USCG

On the morning of August 1, the 110 foot long tug vessel Sea Ranger sank in the Gulf of Alaska some 130 miles south of Cordova, Alaska. The Sea Ranger contacted the United States Coast Guard that the vessel was taking on water and requested assistance.  The Coast Guard responded by sending an HC-130 Super Hercules aircraft from Kodiak with a dewatering pump. The helicopter arrived and able to deliver0 the pump to the crew and returned to back to shore.

Two hours later the Sea Ranger contacted the Coast Guard stating the vessel was in trouble. The tug vessel had suffered a fire in the engine room and the main engine was now inoperative. With no power for the dewatering pumps, the crew of four were unable to stop the water ingress. The Coast Guard deployed a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter along with an HC-130 Super Hercules airplane to assist. The helicopter arrived a few hours later on scene and hoisted all 4 crew members off the Sea Ranger.  The crew were flown to Cordova and found to be in good condition. The tug vessel was last reported to be in sinking condition and was assumed lost.

Miss Jessie

Miss Jessie

Miss Jessie
Photo: USCG

On the early morning of July 25, the 37 foot long fishing vessel Miss Jessie ran aground just south of Humboldt Bay near Eureka, California. The Miss Jessie contacted the United States Coast Guard that the fishing vessel had become disabled and had washed ashore. The Coast Guard dispatched the 47 foot motor lifeboat from Humboldt Bay along with a MH-Dolphin helicopter to assist. The helicopter arrived on scene and hoisted all 5 crew off the Miss Jessie to safety.  There were no injuries reported.

The Coast Guard reported that the Miss Jessie had some 800 gallons of diesel fuel still on board, but there were no signs of pollution released. Authorities are monitoring the vessel while efforts are made to refloat the fishing vessel.  Reports state the Miss Jessie was eventually pulled back into open water a few days later.

This isn’t the first Miss Jessie to require assistance in this area.  In April 2018, the 45 foot long fishing vessel Miss Jessie had suffered steering failure just south of Humboldt Bay off  Table Bluff, California. The Coast Guard responded and the 47 foot motor lifeboat towed the fishing vessel back to harbor.

Navigator

Navigator

Navigator
Photo: x.com

On the morning of July 16, the 48 foot long fishing vessel Navigator caught fire in the Monterey Bay off Pleasure Point near Capitola Beach, California. The Navigator had dropped anchor in the early morning and the 2 crew on board went asleep. The plan was to awake in the morning and fish for squid. Instead the crew woke up to a cabin filled with smoke. The vessel’s generator had malfunctioned starting a fire.

A nearby vessel alerted authorities of the vessel fire. The harbor patrol was first to arrive to assist in the fire fighting effort with the United States Coast Guard and the Monterey Fire Department assisting. Unfortunately, the fire quickly grew making it impossible to extinguish with the equipment on hand. The Navigator was evacuated and later taken under tow headed for Monterey. Before the fishing vessel reached the harbor, the vessel sank. Authorities are monitoring the area, but no oil pollution has been found at the site.

Reports state one of the harbor patrol staff had been injured from the incident. The person had suffered smoke exposure and taken to hospital for treatment.  Reports state the vessel will not be recovered as it is a total loss. One crew member stated the vessel may be rebuilt.