ARRENTON, Ore. — Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, Wash., crews rescue three fishermen from their sinking vessel two miles west of James Island, Friday.
The three fishermen were safely transported to Station Quillayute River by one of two 47-foot Motor Life Boat crews that responded to the sinking 50-foot fishing vessel; the second vessel remained on scene until the fishing vessel sank at 11:23 a.m. in 103 feet of water.
The Coast Guard received a call for help from the crew of the fishing vessel Fjord Mist at 8:33 a.m., stating that the vessel was taking on water and sinking. The two boat crews from Station Quillayute River and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles were directed to respond to the sinking vessel.
Two 47-foot Motor Life Boat crews from Coast Guard Station Quillayute River respond to the help the crew of the Fjord Mist, a 50-foot fishing vessel taking on water 2 miles west of James Island, Wash., Sept. 27, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Janssen Troyer
A dewatering pump was provided to the fishing vessel crew, however the pump was unable to keep up with the flooding and for the crew’s safety they were removed from the sinking vessel. The fishermen suffered no reported injuries.
“Despite the delivery of a dewatering pump, our on scene crews determined that for their safety, the fishermen needed to be evacuated from the sinking vessel,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen Fleming, an operations specialist at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. “The fishermen were safely taken to the small boat station where Coast Guard investigators will work with them to understand the circumstances leading up to the rescue.”
The fishing vessel was reportedly carrying 150 gallons of fuel onboard when it sank. A fuel sheen has been reported from the area.
The Fjord Mist is a seiner fishing vessel based out of La Push, Wash. The crew was reportedly fishing for Hagfish, also known as slime eels, at the time of the incident.
Click the photo for more from the case.
