GRAYS HARBOR, Wash. — A Coast Guard boat crew rescued three fishermen after their vessel took on water and sank less than one mile outside of Grays Harbor.
The 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor transported the fishermen to shore, where emergency medical services personnel evaluated one of them for a reported heart condition.
The crew of the 74-foot fishing vessel Privateer called Station Grays Harbor watchstanders via VHF radio channel 16 at 2:26 p.m., stating they were taking on water through an 8-to-12-inch hole and preparing to abandon ship by deploying their life raft and donning immersion suits.
After arriving on scene, the MLB crew attempted to use dewatering pumps on the boat but could not keep up with flooding. The boat crew made the advisement to abandon ship and pulled all three fishermen off the sinking vessel.
“It was clear the fishing crew had conducted drills and were prepared for an emergency,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Hylkema, coxswain of the MLB. “They had marine VHF radios, a life raft and immersion suits. It was a terrifying situation, but their actions proved they were ready.”
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, in Warrenton, Oregon, have issued an urgent marine information broadcast for area boaters to steer clear of the partially submerged vessel, which is reported to be drifting north of the north jetty.
The vessel reportedly had no catch on board and a max fuel capacity of 6,000 gallons. A rainbow sheen was observed around the boat, but it has reportedly dissipated.
Pollution responders at Coast Guard Incident Management Division in Astoria have opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to begin cleanup assessment.
The cause of the sinking is currently unknown.
Weather on scene at the time of the incident was reportedly an air temperature of 57 degrees and a water temperature of 52 degrees with 8-foot swells.