Author: Alexander Tinder

Biden Nominates First Female Vice Commandant for the U.S. Coast Guard

Biden Nominates First Female Vice Commandant for the U.S. Coast Guard

Photos courtesy of gCaptain.    On April 20th, 2021, President Biden made history by nominating Vice Admiral Linda L. Fagan as the Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. If she is sworn in, Vice Admiral Fagan would be the first female four-star admiral in the Coast Guard’s entire history. Until then, Vice Admiral Fagan…

Written by Alexander Tinder on April 22, 2021

Read more »

Third Design for Advanced Staten Island Ferry Launched by NYC DOT

Staten Island Ferry departing from St. George Terminal.

Photos courtesy of the Eastern Shipbuilding Group On the 31st of March 2021, congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis had the honor of breaking the ceremonial champagne over the bow of the Dorothy Day. The vessel was launched by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and was a part of a $300 million investment to bring…

Written by Alexander Tinder on April 5, 2021

Read more »

Attorney Doug Williams Takes Maritime Leadership Role at WSAJ

wasj-e1617280171100

BoatLaw is pleased to announce that partner, Doug Williams, is serving as Chair of the Maritime Law Section for The Washington State Association for Justice (“WSAJ”).  The WSAJ is the oldest and largest civil justice advocacy organization in the Pacific Northwest.  The organization provides its attorney members many resources needed to protect the legal rights…

Written by Alexander Tinder on April 1, 2021

Read more »

Vessel Sinks with Three Aboard Off Washington Coast

Boat taking on water and sinking, with waves surrounding it

On Saturday, March 20, 2021, three men were rescued by a Coast Guard crew after their vessel sank five miles off the coast of La Push, Washington. The three men were found floating around debris without lifejackets late Saturday afternoon when Coast Guard officials rescued them. According to the Coast Guard, the large vessel was…

Written by Alexander Tinder on March 25, 2021

Read more »

U.S. Coast Guard Announces New Law Requiring Boat Engine Cut-off Switches

recreational boating on calm waters.

As of April 1, 2021, operators of recreational vessels less than 26 feet long will be required to use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) and associated ECOS link (ECOSL), according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The ECOS and ECOSL devices prevent runaway vessels and the threats they pose. The ECOSL attaches the vessel operator to…

Written by Alexander Tinder on March 24, 2021

Read more »

Commercial Diver Fatality Results from Geoduck Harvesting in Washington State

Diver rescuing a woman from the water.

Commercial diver Anthony Gockerell was tragically killed on the job near Port Angeles, Washington on March 3, 2021. Gockerell was performing geoduck clam harvesting at the Dungeness West geoduck tract. He signaled that his surface-supplied umbilical cord, which provides air to the diver, was unable to clear. The crew believed that the diver had become…

Written by Alexander Tinder on March 8, 2021

Read more »

Allergic Reaction Prompts Medical Evacuation from Commercial Fishing Vessel Near Cold Bay

Rescue helicopter flying over frozen mountain terrain.

Around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, a 31-year-old crew-member aboard F/V AMERICAN TRIUMPH began experiencing a severe allergic reaction.  The vessel contacted Health Force, which recommended medical evacuation by the United States Coast Guard. Coast Guard Command launched a helicopter from Forward Operating Location Cold Bay, Alaska.  The rescue crew reached the vessel 101 miles northwest…

Written by Alexander Tinder on March 4, 2021

Read more »

Crewmember Suffers a Crush Injury Aboard F/V ALASKA OCEAN in Alaska

Fishing boat on open water.

A 45-year-old man aboard factory trawler F/V ALASKA OCEAN suffered an arm crush injury on February 21, 2021, in Alaska.  HealthForce Partners contacted the Coast Guard command center in Juneau at approximately 7:00 p.m. to request a medical evacuation.  The trawler was located 30 miles northeast of Cold Bay when the incident occurred.  The Coast…

Written by Alexander Tinder on March 1, 2021

Read more »

Back-to-Back Offshore Medevacs on the West Coast

U.S. Coast Guard rescues fishermen from sinking vessel

It was a busy weekend for the U.S. Coast Guard along the West Coast, including two medical evacuations from vessels underway offshore. First, on February 19, 2021, the Coast Guard responded to hails from the 10,000 TEU containership M/V HYUNDAI JUPITER 40 nautical miles to the west of San Luis Obispo, California.  A person aboard…

Written by Alexander Tinder on February 25, 2021

Read more »

Fishing Vessel Overturns at Tillamook Bay in Oregon

Fishing vessel navigating through stormy seas.

On Saturday afternoon at approximately 4:40 p.m., a 38-foot fishing boat capsized at the mouth of Tillamook Bay, sending all four individuals on board into the water. Fortunately, the U.S. Coast Guard was monitoring the area from a nearby watchtower when the incident occurred, enabling a swift response from rescue crews. Coast Guard teams were…

Written by Alexander Tinder on February 23, 2021

Read more »