NORTH BEND, Ore. — A Coast Guard aircrew and two boat crews were searching for three fishermen near the entrance to Coos Bay after finding a capsized vessel Tuesday evening, Jan. 14, on the jetty tips. (Update: The three fishermen were located and rescued from inside the capsized vessel by local fire personnel.) The capsized vessel is the 38-foot fishing vessel Pacific Miner, which reportedly had three men aboard when it capsized. A Coast Guard Sector North Bend MH-65 Dolphin aircrew, flying on a routine training flight, spotted the capsized fishing vessel and immediately reported it to the Sector North Bend Command Center. Shortly after receiving the report the Coast Guard received an electronic position indicating radio beacon transmission that was automatically activated when the EPIRB was submerged in water. The EPIRB was registered to the fishing vessel Pacific Miner. Two 47-foot Motor Life Boat crews from Coast Guard Station Coos Bay were launched to assist in search efforts. The Pacific Miner reportedly had approximately 300 crab on board. The Coos Bay bar is currently restricted to recreational vessels 40-feet and below. The reported conditions include 8 to12-foot breaking waves with low winds. There is four miles of visibility. The owner of the vessel has been notified of the incident.
