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U.S. Coast Guard Intervenes in Fishing Vessel Sinking Incident in the Gulf of Alaska

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center received a mayday call from F/V ELISE MARIE at 1900 hours local time.  The vessel was taking on water and sinking near Icy Bay (approximately 160 nautical miles southeast of Valdez).

The Coast Guard mobilized a C-130 Hercules airplane, an MH-60 helicopter, and cutter JOHN MCCORMICK to assist.  The helicopter delivered a dewatering pump to the stricken vessel at 2100 hours which the fishing vessel crew used to buy time while additional help was in transit.  Cutter JOHN MCCORMICK arrived the next morning at 1030 hours and started to tow F/V ELISE MARIE towards the Port of Yakutat. The Yakutat Police Department took over the tow near shore.  The vessel arrived safely in port at 2330 hours on Oct. 22.

This incident demonstrates the dangers faced by commercial fishermen who work aboard fishing vessels in Alaska. BoatLaw, LLP has represented commercial fishermen throughout the pacific northwest for over forty years.  The firm’s admiralty lawyers have a unique understanding of the perils faced by these mariners.

Source: Maritime Executive

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  • The Maritime Law Association of The United States
    The Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA) was founded in 1899. Its formation was prompted by the organization, some three years earlier, of the International Maritime Committee.
  • Washington State Bar Association
    The Washington State Bar Association operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals.
  • Oregon State Bar
    The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession.
  • Alaska Bar Association
    The Alaska Bar Association is a mandatory bar association responsible to the Alaska Supreme Court for the admission and discipline process of attorneys for the State of Alaska.