The Coast Guard assisted two fishermen aboard a fishing vessel that was taking on water 11 miles north of Depoe Bay, Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 10. The Inseiner, a 70-foot fishing vessel homeported in Warrenton had no catch on board, and is being escorted to Yaquina Bay in Newport with an estimated time of arrival of 11 p.m. A watchstander at Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay received a mayday call from the Inseiner on VHF channel 16 at approximately 2:20 p.m., where the captain reported his vessel was taking on water and required assistance. The watchstander relayed the call to response units that were in closer proximity to the vessel in distress – Coast Guard Station Depoe Bay and Air Facility Newport. A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and aircrew from Newport arrived on scene at approximately 3 p.m. and lowered a dewatering pump to the two men aboard the Inseiner. A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat and crew from Depoe Bay arrived on scene at 3:24 p.m. and delivered an additional dewatering pump. “A quick response by both our helicopter aircrew and boatcrew was essential in a safe return to port by the crew of the Inseiner,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Blanchard, operations specialist, Sector North Bend. The Station Depoe Bay boatcrew is escorting the Inseiner into Yaquina Bay with an estimated four to five-hour transit. The sea and weather conditions on scene were 4 to 6-foot seas with occasional 8-foot swells, and the weather conditions were 15 to 20 knots with 3 miles of visibility. The Coast Guard has responded to several mayday calls from the Pacific Northwest crab fishing fleet since the beginning of commercial crab season on January 4, serving as a reminder of the dangerous conditions in the Pacific Ocean. The Coast Guard reminds all mariners to take necessary precautions by preparing for all weather conditions and always filing a float plan before getting underway.
