Coast Guard rescues three from sinking vessel near Grays Harbor

Published 12:01 am Sunday, April 17, 2016

GRAYS HARBOR — A Coast Guard boat crew rescued three fishermen from a sinking vessel less than 1 mile outside of Grays Harbor.

The 47-foot motor life boat crew from Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor took the fishermen to shore, where emergency medical services personnel evaluated one of them for a reported heart condition.

None of the fishermen was identified.

The crew of the 74-foot fishing vessel Privateer called Station Grays Harbor at 2:26 p.m. Friday.

They said they were taking on water through an 8-inch-to-12-inch hole, deploying their life raft and donning immersion suits in preparation to abandon ship.

The Coast Guard crew used dewatering pumps on the boat but could not keep up with flooding and pulled the three men from the sinking vessel.

The cause of the sinking was unknown by Saturday.

“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 Coast Guard boat.

“They had marine VHF radios, a life raft and immersion suits. It was a terrifying situation, but their actions proved they were ready.”

Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Ore., issued a warning for boaters to steer clear of the partially submerged vessel, which was reported to be drifting north of the north jetty.

The vessel reportedly had no catch on board and a maximum fuel capacity of 6,000 gallons.

A rainbow sheen was observed around the boat, but it has since reportedly dissipated.

Pollution responders in Astoria opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to assess the salvaging of the vessel.