Coast Guard assists sinking tugboat's crew
By Paige Dickerson, Peninsula Daily News
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The three men were traveling in the Joe Foss from Seattle to Depoe Bay, Ore., and were taking on water 25 miles northwest of the Quillayute River entrance on Sunday, according to a written statement from the Coast Guard.
The call came in at about 8 p.m. on Sunday. The tug was moored in LaPush at about 9 a.m. Monday
Station Quillayute River launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew to help the Joe Foss pump out the water and to escort the vessel into safe harbor at LaPush.
The Sunday escort lasted about 13 hours because of severe weather conditions.
A second motor lifeboat also assisted from the station.
Through the course of dewatering the vessel, two pumps were used to remove 200 gallons of water and a damage control kit slowed the flow of water, the release stated.
The crew docked at LaPush for the night, and repairs were made on the tugboat.
The Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay had a call on Wednesday at about 6:15 a.m. from the crew who said the vessel was again taking on water and sinking about eight miles north of Tillamook Bay.
The crew put on survival suits and got into the water as the vessel was sinking.
A fishing vessel, the Kilchis, picked up the crew, and took them to a 47-foot lifeboat from the Tillamook River station, according to the statement.
The vessel had continued to sink on Wednesday.
The crew was cited for documentation and fire extinguisher violations, but nothing was found that may have contributed to the sinking, said the statement.
The incident is under investigation.
Air Station Astoria also responded with a HH-60 helicopter.
The men were taken to Garibaldi, Ore., and no injuries were reported.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: January 23. 2008 9:00PM