Coast Guard seizes 2 lanchas with 6 Mexican nationals aboard, off Texas waters

May 3, 2015

Coast Guardsmen from Station South Padre Island, Texas, catch and detain Mexican nationals aboard a lancha after crews in Coast Guard aircraft spotted them fishing illegally in U.S. territorial waters Friday, May 1, 2015.  (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Kendrick)

Coast Guardsmen from Station South Padre Island, Texas, catch and detain Mexican nationals aboard a lancha after crews in Coast Guard aircraft spotted them fishing illegally in U.S. territorial waters Friday, May 1, 2015. One of the men has been caught and deported more than 15 times and had warrants out for his arrest. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Kendrick)

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard seized two Mexican fishing boats, also known as a lanchas, in the waters off South Texas, each with three Mexican nationals aboard Friday afternoon.

At 11:00 a.m., an Air Station Corpus Christi aircrew on an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter spotted a lancha approximately 6 miles north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border and 26 miles offshore, setting 500 yards of illegal long line fishing gear. The helicopter aircrew pursued the lancha south of maritime border while an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew vectored in a Station South Padre Island boatcrew on a 33-foot law enforcement boat to assist with the interdiction.
One of the three men aboard admitted to having been brought in for illegally fishing in U.S. territorial waters more than 15 times.

Then, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Coast Guard watch standers received notification that a lancha was possibly disabled and located approximately 43 miles north of the U.S./Mexico maritime border and 34 miles off the coast of South Padre Island. Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders immediately launched another MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

The aircrew located the lancha and dropped the rescue swimmer in order to check the condition of the people aboard. After confirming they were okay, a 33-foot law enforcement boat from Station South Padre Island arrived and interdicted the lancha with the three Mexican nationals and illegal fishing gear aboard.

Since Oct. 1, 2014, there have been 24 lanchas interdicted, 176 lancha detections with evidence of illegal fishing, and 38 miles of illegal long line fishing gear recovered. These latest interdictions are part of an ongoing operation known as Operation Sea Serpent, which increases coordination with the Mexican Navy and other U.S. law enforcement agencies for maritime security patrols and enforcement on both sides of the maritime border.

“Commercial vessels from Mexico continue to conduct illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, venturing further north from the border to seek a larger and more lucrative catch. This activity exploits fish species most sought after by legitimate U.S. commercial and recreational fisherman alike,” said Cmdr. Daniel Deptula, the response officer at Sector Corpus Christi.

If you witness suspicious or illegal fishing in state waters (out to 9 miles offshore), please contact Texas Parks and Wildlife “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-792-GAME (4263). For all suspicious or illegal fishing occurring in federal waters (out to 200 miles offshore), please contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 361-939-6393.

Coast Guard rescues 3 fishermen from capsized vessel, searching for master near Quillayute River, Washington

May 3, 2015

 

 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

The Coast Guard rescued three fishermen and is currently searching for the master of a 52-foot fishing vessel Sea Beast after it reportedly took on water, capsized and subsequently sank 14 miles offshore of Quillayute River, Sunday.

A Coast Guard Station Quillayute River 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Blue Shark are searching for the master of the Sea Beast who remains missing.

“The Coast Guard is actively searching for the master of the Sea Beast near Quillayute River and anyone in the area with information about the case is asked to call the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound command center on VHF-FM radio Channel 16 or at 206-217-6001,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua Morales, an operations specialist at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. 

“Fortunately the other three crewmembers were able to safely abandon ship and have been recovered in good condition.”

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received the initial mayday call from the master of the Sea Beast at 3 a.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water and they could not keep up with the flooding. The watchstanders instructed the fishermen to don survival suits and prepare to abandon ship into their life raft.

Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Watchstanders assumed the case from Sector Columbia River and also directed the launch of Coast Guard Dolphin and MLB crews and diverted the Blue Shark to the scene. Three crewmen successfully abandoned ship and the vessel reportedly capsized with the master still aboard. The MLB crew rescued the three fishermen from the life raft and safely transported them to the pier in Quillayute River.

The incident occurred in the Olympic Marine Sanctuary and the Washington Department of Ecology has been notified. The Sea Beast can reportedly carry a maximum of 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel in its tanks, but no pollution has been reported at this time. The sunken vessel is not reported to be a hazard to navigation at this time. The incident is under investigation.

Weather on scene at the time of the sinking was reportedly 5 to 10 mph winds and 4-foot seas. The Sea Beast is reportedly homeported in Neah Bay.

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LAPUSH — Three fishermen were rescued and one remained missing Sunday afternoon after a Neah Bay-registered commercial fishing vessel overturned before dawn in the ocean 14 miles off LaPush.

Coast Guard boat and air crews continued searching Sunday evening for the unidentified master of the 52-foot commercial fishing boat Sea Beast, which capsized after 3 a.m. Sunday, said Petty Officer Jonathan Klingenberg, spokesman for the Coast Guard in Seattle.

Klingenberg said the master, if wearing a survival suit, has a “window of survivability” until about 10 p.m. Sunday, prompting rescuers to continue the search past dusk.

The Sea Beast reportedly took on water and issued a mayday call, Klingenberg said.

The crew abandoned the boat and were later rescued, but the skipper apparently remained aboard when it capsized.

A 47-foot motor life boat crew from Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles and the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Blue Shark were assigned to the search operation.

Coast Guard officials have not released the name of the missing man.

The website www.boatinfoworld.com, which tracks vessel registrations, lists the owner of the 41-year-old Sea Beast as Glen Halttunen Jr.

Duty personnel at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a mayday distress call from the master of the Sea Beast at 3 a.m., Klingenberg said.

The distress call, released by the Coast Guard on Sunday afternoon, described a desperate situation for the red and white boat, which keeps caught fish alive in an aerated tank in the hold.

‘We’re taking water’

“We’re taking water over our stern. Our stern . . . is failing fast. Our stern is sinking. We’re sinking right now,” said the voice on the radio, identified by the Coast Guard as the master of the Sea Beast.

[Video and audio of the mayday call from the Coast Guard are below.]

Coast Guard duty personnel instructed the fishermen to don their survival suits and abandon ship into their life raft as rescue crews within range of the Sea Beast’s position were dispatched to the location.

“Three crewmen successfully abandoned ship and the vessel reportedly capsized with the master still aboard,” Klingenberg said.

The ocean was relatively calm, with 5 to 10 mph winds and 4-foot seas, he said.

Klingenberg said the Coast Guard’s motorized lifeboat crew found the three fishermen in the life raft and took them to the pier at LaPush, where Station Quillayute River is located.

The three crew members from the life raft were reported to be in good condition.

The sinking occurred in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and the state Department of Ecology was notified by the Coast Guard because the Sea Beast can reportedly carry up to 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

No pollution from the sunken vessel was reported Sunday, and the Sea Beast was not thought to be a hazard to navigation.

Anyone with information about the sinking of the Sea Beast is asked to call the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound command center on VHF-FM radio Channel 16 or by phoning 206-217-6001.

Coast Guard assists 7 mariners after sailing vessel grounds near Shilshole Bay, Washington

May 3, 2015

 

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard and good Samaritans assisted mariners aboard a 26-foot sailing vessel after the vessel grounded near Shilshole Bay Saturday.

Good Samaritans responded to a Coast Guard issued marine assistance request broadcast and transported five of the mariners to the nearby marina while two remained aboard the sailing vessel to await contracted vessel assist. As the tide ebbed and the sailing vessel repositioned they began to feel unsafe and a Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat – Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Seattle transported the remaining mariners to the marina.

“We deeply appreciate the efforts of good Samaritans to look after each other and help the Coast Guard here in the Pacific Northwest,” said Aaron McNeal, an operations specialist at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. “We are a maritime community with heavy commercial and recreational activity on our waterways.

 Good Samaritans can often reach mariners in distress more quickly than our assets and in some cases their actions prevent loss of life.”

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a phone call from the master of the sailing vessel Leif, rented from the Seattle Sailing Club, at 8:18 p.m. reporting the vessel was grounded on the breakwater near Shilshole Bay Marina. They had reportedly been sailing into the wind when the engine cut out. There were no injuries and they were not in immediate distress.  At 4:20 a.m. Sunday vessel assist was able to take the sailing vessel in tow and moor it safely at Shilshole Bay Marina.

Weather on scene at the time of the grounding was reportedly 10 mph winds and 1-foot seas.

PEDEGO RECALLS LITHIUM ION RECHARGEABLE BICYCLE BATTERIES DUE TO FIRE HAZARD

Recall date: April 29, 2015 

Recall number: 15-124 

Recall Summary 

Name of product:

Lithium ion rechargeable batteries

Hazard:

The batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy:

Replace

Consumer Contact:

Pedego Electric Bikes toll-free at (888) 870-9754 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, email info@batteryrecall2015.com, or online at www.pedegoelectricbikes.com and click on "Voluntary Battery Recall" for more information.

Recall Details

Units

About 5,000

Description

This recall involves 36-volt and 48-volt lithium ion rechargeable batteries sold separately and as original equipment with Pedego electric bikes. Recalled batteries of each voltage came in two styles. One style has a silver or black metal case that measures about 13 ½ inches long, 6 ½ inches wide and 2 ½ inches high, with black plastic end caps and a handle. The other style has a black or white plastic case that measures about 14 inches long, 6 ½ inches wide and 2 ½ inches high with a red indicator lamp on one end. The batteries have serial numbers that start with “DLG.” A label with the serial number is on one side of the metal batteries and on the underside of the plastic batteries.

Incidents/Injuries

Pedego has received six reports of batteries overheating and catching fire, including one report of property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy

Consumers should immediately remove the battery from the bike and contact Pedego for a free replacement battery.

Sold at

Bicycle stores and electric bike retailers and online at www.pedegoelectricbikes.com from January 2010 through September 2013. The batteries were sold separately for about $600 to $900 and on electric bicycles that sold for between $2,000 and $3,000.

Manufacturer(s)

Pedego Inc., of Irvine, Calif.

Importer(s)

Pedego Inc., of Irvine, Calif.

Distributor(s)

Pedego Inc., of Irvine, Calif.

Manufactured in

China.

1 KILLED, 2 INJURED IN HIGH SPEED CRASH IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

MAY 2, 2015

NASHVILLE, TENN. (WKRN) 

One person was killed and two others injured in a crash not far from Tennessee State University Saturday night.

It happened around 5:40 p.m. at 40th Avenue North and Albion Street.

An investigation into the crash by Metro police revealed convicted felon Demond Buchanan, 37, was speeding on Clifton Avenue when an officer attempted to pull him over.

Buchanan, driving a black Chevrolet Camaro, sped away from the officer and turned onto 40th Avenue North. The officer deactivated his emergency equipment and did not pursue Buchanan.

A short time later, authorities said Buchanan collided with a white Chevrolet Trailblazer as he was attempting to pass it on the left while it was turning onto Albion Street.

The collision caused the Trailblazer to roll over and the Camaro to leave the roadway, striking a brick building.

A passenger of the Camaro, identified as 37-year-old Marlon Burnett, died at the scene and Buchanan was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the Trailblazer was taken to Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Police discovered a loaded handgun, a large amount of cash and marijuana inside the Camaro.

Authorities reported there is evidence on the scene of drug use by both Buchanan and Burnett.

A blood sample was taken from Buchanan for analysis.

Buchanan, of Baby Ruth Lane, has previous convictions for aggravated assault, cocaine possession, felon in possession of a weapon, aggravated burglary, and evading arrest.  He was cited on April 9 for reckless driving and driving on a revoked license.

Charges relating to this fatal crash will be determined after the completion of the investigation.