The fishing vessel Master D on fire approximately 40 miles east of Port Isabel, Texas, Aug. 31, 2018. All three crewmembers from the fishing vessel were rescued by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Coho after activating the vessel’s emergency position-indicating radio beacon. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
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September 2, 2018
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas –
The fishing vessel Master D sank 58 miles from Port Isabel, Texas, Saturday at a depth of approximately 380-feet after burning for two days.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Brownsville investigation officers and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the incident.
The Coast Guard opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund in anticipation of mitigating any pollution threat to the environment. The incident is categorized as a major marine casualty.
An estimated 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 400 gallons of lube oil were onboard the vessel when it sank. No anticipated impacts to the shoreline are expected due to the distance offshore and the forecasted weather over the next several days.
The 68-foot Master D is a 122-gross ton fishing vessel homeported out of the Brownsville Shrimp Basin.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Coho rescued the three-man crew from a life raft Friday after the fishermen activated their emergency position indicating radio beacon. MSD Brownsville personnel were deployed and coordinated initial response efforts.
“The vessel had all the proper firefighting and lifesaving equipment onboard when the fire occurred,” said Chief Warrant Officer Steve Kilgore, Marine Safety Detachment Brownsville marine inspector. “This played a major role in ensuring the safe retrieval of the fishermen.”
An overflight shows the area where the fishing vessel Master D sank approximately 58 miles from Port Isabel, Texas, Sept. 1, 2018, after burning for two days. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
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F/V Master D
40 miles east of Port Isabel, Texas | 2018-Aug-31
Initial Notification:
On August 31, 2018, the NOAA SSC was contacted by USCG Sector Corpus Christie regarding a fire aboard the FV Master D. Potential onboard is 23,000 gallons of diesel and 300 gallons lube oil. The incident occurred approx 38 miles offshore. It was reported that there is a 1/2 mile sheen behind the vessel. USCG is requesting a Trajectory and potential resources at risk.
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August 31, 2018
Gulf of Mexico
The Coast Guard rescued three crewmembers from a life raft after their fishing vessel caught fire approximately 40 miles east of Port Isabel, Texas, Friday morning.
Eighth Coast Guard District watchstanders in New Orleans received an emergency position indicating radio beacon alert from the fishing vessel Master D, which provided an approximate location of the vessel.
Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi watchstanders diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Coho to the location.
The Coho crew located the fishing vessel on fire, as well as the three-person crew in a life raft nearby and transferred them aboard the cutter.