Coast Guard aids fishermen aboard disabled vessel near Humboldt Bay

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/06/2018 11:06 AM EST

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News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest
Contact: 11th District Public Affairs
Office: (510) 437-3325
After Hours: (510) 772-8865
11th District online newsroom

Coast Guard aids fishermen aboard disabled vessel near Humboldt Bay

The Lori Ann, a 58-foot commercial fishing vessel, is pictured moored at Woodley Island Marina in Eureka, Calif., Feb. 5, 2018. A Coast Guard boat crew from Station Humboldt Bay towed the Lori Ann to the marina after the crew lost steering power during a Dungeness crab fishing trip.

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MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif.  — The Coast Guard assisted four Dungeness crab fishermen aboard a 58-foot commercial fishing vessel approximately two miles west of the Humboldt Bay north spit, Monday. 

The Lori Ann's crew contacted Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders via VHF-FM channel 16 around 1 p.m., reporting their boat was disabled and had no steering. 

Watchstanders issued a Marine Assistance Request Broadcast to ask for help from other boaters in the area, but nobody was able to respond. Due to thick fog in the area that reduced visibility to one-half mile, the officer of the day dispatched a crew from Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay to assist. A rescue crew launched aboard a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat and arrived on scene in less than 10 minutes.  

The Coast Guard crew placed the Lori Ann in side tow and helped moor the vessel at Woodley Island Marina around 5:30 p.m. 

"Fortunately, the fog cleared by the time we arrived, but maneuvering two boats in a field of crab pots is still very difficult," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Boyd, the rescue boat coxswain. "It took a lot of time and caution to get everyone to the dock safely." 

The crew of the Lori Ann did not report any injuries. 

 

-USCG-