WARRENTON,
OREGONCoast Guard crews and good Samaritans responded to a mayday call and aided the crew of a sinking 32-foot fishing vessel 20 miles southwest of Yaquina Bay, Wednesday.
A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay in Newport escorted the fishing vessel Apache 4 to Yaquina Bay after multiple crews worked to identify the source of the flooding, secure it and dewater the vessel.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a mayday call over VHF-FM channel 16 from the two fishermen around 8:42 p.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water and sinking.
The MLB crew and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend and Coast Guard Air Facility Newport were launched in response, while the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Orcas was diverted from their nearby patrol. Good Samaritans aboard the fishing vessels Kristina and Silver Quest also responded to an urgent marine information broadcast issued by Sector North Bend watchstanders.
Once on scene the air facility Dolphin crew transferred a dewatering pump to the vessel using their rescue swimmer. The source of the flooding was identified as an open discharged valve and secured. The MLB crew assisted with dewatering the vessel and escorted them safely to Yaquina Bay where they conducted a post search and rescue boarding. No injuries were reported.
“The swift actions and combined efforts of our local mariners and various Coast Guard assets, were able to address the situation at hand quickly and safely without injury, the loss of life or loss of property,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Coulter Perkins, a watchstander at Sector North Bend. “We value our close partnerships with more than just local agencies, but also the mariner community.”
Weather conditions on scene were reportedly seas up to 4-feet, 12 mph winds and a visibility of 5 miles.