The U.S. Coast Guard said it responded to the collision of two fishing vessels off the coast of the U.S. state of Washington, and one of the vessels sank after its crew was rescued.
Coast Guard stations Gray Harbor and Air Station Astoria responded to the collision, which was roughly 22 miles off the coast of Grays Harbor, Washington. The report came at 6:40 a.m. on 21 July and involved The Tabitha, a 62-foot commercial fishing vessel, and the Nora J, a 35-foot wooden commercial fishing vessel.
The Coast Guard said after receiving the call it launched a lifeboat crew and a helicopter to the scene. The Nora J experienced “significant” damage and began taking on water, while The Tabitha had no significant damage.
The Coast Guard reported it safely removed all three crewmembers from the Nora J and transferred them to the Grays Harbor station. Attempts to save the vessel were unsuccessful, and it sank in 300 feet of water.
“We are grateful to the Grays Harbor crew who swiftly arrived on scene and helped prevent any of the mariners from entering the water,” Lt. Patrick Norton, command duty officer at the Coast Guard Columbia River Command Center, said in a release. “The Coast Guard is proud to support the men and women whose livelihood depends on the waters of the Pacific Northwest.”
