Triumph tows disabled dragger with 42,000 lbs of fish aboard through deep draft bar

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 12/10/2017 06:48 PM EST

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Dec. 10, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest
Contact: 13th District Public Affairs
Office: (206) 220-7237
After Hours: (206) 605-4817

 

A Coast Guard boat crew aboard the Triumph II, a 52-foot Motor Life Boat from Coast Guard Cape Disappointment, tows the 58-foot fishing vessel Ashlyne to Astoria, Ore., Dec. 10, 2017. The crew aboard the Ashlyne has lost use of the main engine about 17 miles west of Willapa Bay, Wash., when they have four people and 42,000 pounds of fish aboard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Fishler A Coast Guard boat crew aboard the Triumph II, a 52-foot Motor Life Boat from Coast Guard Cape Disappointment, conducting a tow off the Pacific Northwest coast, Dec. 10, 2017. The Triumph II is one of only four 52-MLBs in the Coast Guard and is specially designed for the deep water bars of the Pacific Northwest. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Fishler A Coast Guard boat crew aboard the Triumph II, a 52-foot Motor Life Boat from Coast Guard Cape Disappointment, tows the 58-foot fishing vessel Ashlyne to Astoria, Ore., Dec. 10, 2017. While the station has both 52-MLBs and 47-foot Motor Life Boats, the 52-MLB was specifically chosen for this operation as it is better capable at crossing the Columbia River bar and has a higher towing capacity. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Fishler

Triumph tows disabled dragger with 42,000 lbs of fish aboard through deep draft bar

ILWACO, Wash. — The Coast Guard towed a 58-foot fishing vessel after the crew lost use of their main engine about 17 miles west of Willapa Bay, Sunday.

A boat crew aboard the Triumph II, a 52-foot Motor Life Boat from Coast Guard Cape Disappointment, met the crew of the fishing vessel Ashlyne, a 58-foot dragger with four people and 42,000 pounds of fish aboard, and safely towed them across the Columbia River bar into Astoria, Oregon.

The Triumph II is one of four special purpose crafts specifically designed for the deep water bars located in the Coast Guard 13th District. The power and stability of the 52-MLBs make them the preferred asset for towing commercial fishing vessels across large bars.

Station Cape Disappointment is a multi-asset unit with both the 52-MLBs and 47-foot Motor Life Boats.

Towing the crew of the Ashlyne was estimated at a 70 to 80 miles round trip and 110 tons.

"That would make it close to the max towing capacity of the 47-MLBs, which is 150 tons," said Cheif Petty Officer Bradd Beckett, executive officer, Station Cape Disappointment. "Being that close to the towing capacity made fuel consumption a concern."

The large volume of water that moves out on an ebb tide across deep water bars such as the Columbia River bar and the struggle to operate a 47-MLB in that environment was also of concern. That same environment however has little effect on the operation of the 52-MLBs due to the nature of their construction.

"Coming back, we would of had to wait for the ebb to pass if we used the 47-MLB," said Beckett. "Using the 52-MLB eliminated all those concerns."

-USCG-