Skipper rescued, boat breaks apart

May 13, 2019 3:30 pm
courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Incident Management Division Debris from the 38-foot commercial fishing vessel Theron wash up on a beach along the northern side of Clatsop Spit, Oregon, May 13. The Theron grounded on the spit earlier that morning after the vessel master lost steering while attempting to cross the Columbia River Bar.
courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Incident Management Division Debris from the 38-foot commercial fishing vessel Theron wash up on a beach along the northern side of Clatsop Spit, Oregon, May 13. The Theron grounded on the spit earlier that morning after the vessel master lost steering while attempting to cross the Columbia River Bar.

A 38-foot commercial fishing vessel lost steering as it tried to cross the Columbia River Bar entrance Monday, grounded on the north side of the Clatsop Spit and eventually broke apart, according to the Coast Guard.

The master of the Theron contacted Coast Guard Sector Columbia River saying the vessel was drifting toward the breakers and shole and that the vessel had grounded several times and he had no ability to anchor.

Two boat crews from Station Cape Disappointment were launched and made contact with the Theron around 12:30 a.m., about the time the skipper reported the vessel was again aground and the engine room was filling with water. The two Coast Guard vessels were unable to approach, so a Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched to stand by and provide support as the smaller of the two Coast Guard vessels got within 150 yards of the Theron.

Around 1 a.m. the Theron managed to break free, but soon was losing power due to engine room flooding. The helicopter crew plucked the skipper from the water and took him to the station; the Coast Guard reported he had no injuries and required no medical attention.

According to the Coast Guard statement, as the sun rose Monday morning the Theron was almost fully submerged and had not moved from where it grounded during the night. The emergency position indicating radio beacon registered to the vessel had been activated, presumably set off by the rising water, and several strobe lights were observed in the area and confirmed to be the life raft strobe entangled in the mast rigging.

Later in the morning a station boat crew launched and verified the vessel was breaking up in the area and reported a minor sheen was visible. In addition to aiding the coordination of potential salvage efforts, personnel are working to mitigate any potential pollution from the vessel. The vessel had an estimated 400 gallons of diesel and seven salmon aboard.

courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Incident Management Division Debris from the 38-foot commercial fishing vessel Theron wash up on a beach along the northern side of Clatsop Spit, Oregon, May 13. The Theron grounded on the spit earlier that morning after the vessel master lost steering while attempting to cross the Columbia River Bar.

courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Incident Management Division Debris from the 38-foot commercial fishing vessel Theron wash up on a beach along the northern side of Clatsop Spit, Oregon, May 13. The Theron grounded on the spit earlier that morning after the vessel master lost steering while attempting to cross the Columbia River Bar.

courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Incident Management Division Debris from the 38-foot commercial fishing vessel Theron wash up on a beach along the northern side of Clatsop Spit, Oregon, May 13. The Theron grounded on the spit earlier that morning after the vessel master lost steering while attempting to cross the Columbia River Bar.

courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River Incident Management Division Debris from the 38-foot commercial fishing vessel Theron wash up on a beach along the northern side of Clatsop Spit, Oregon, May 13. The Theron grounded on the spit earlier that morning after the vessel master lost steering while attempting to cross the Columbia River Bar.