Accidents of the Week – February 18, 2023
18 February, 2023
Coast Guard Rescues 3 Boaters Near Pascagoula, Mississippi
1/30/23 – Pascagoula, MS
EPIRB Alerted Coast Guard to Fishing Vessel’s Plight
Eighth Coast Guard District watchstanders received a distress alert on 30 January at 8:11 a.m. from an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) approximately 11 miles southeast of Pascagoula.
The EPIRB was registered to a 50-foot commercial fishing vessel, Dat Parker. The watchstanders contacted the owner of the vessel who informed them her husband and two others had taken the boat for fishing and that she was unable to contact them.
Sector Mobile watchstanders coordinated the launch of Coast Guard Station Pascagoula Response Boat-Medium boat crew to respond. The boat crew located the sinking vessel with one boater in a life raft and the other two boaters standing on the bow.
The boat crew embarked the three boaters aboard and transported them to Bayou La Batre, Alabama. All three persons were reported to be in stable condition.
Oakland County Man Dies After Ice Sail Boating Crash in White Lake Township, Michigan
2/5/23 – White Lake, MI
An 81-year-old Independence Township man died on 5 February after crashing an ice sailboat on Pontiac Lake, Michigan. The incident happened just before noon on the eastern part of the lake, about 100 yards from shore.
Dan Erwin Campbell, 81, was operating the 27-foot ice sailboat at the time of the crash. According to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, police believe Campbell hit his head on the ice. In addition, police say he was wearing a helmet and face shield.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy was scheduled to be held on 6 February. The Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team assisted the White Lake Township police and fire departments in their investigation of the tragic incident.
Irmo firefighters Put Out Boat Fire at Lake Murray Dam
2/5/23 – Irmo, SC
A fire crew in Irmo, South Carolina, responded to a fire at the Lake Murray Dam on 5 February.
According to the Irmo Fire District, a boat caught on fire at the launch ramp on the Irmo side of the dam. Firefighters were able to get the fire under control and no one was reported to be injured.
Coast Guard Assists Dismasted Sailing Vessel off Puerto Rico
1/30/23 – San Juan, PR
A Coast Guard Station San Juan boat crew assisted two boaters and towed their dismasted sailing vessel to safe harbor in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
A U.S. and a Norwegian boater were reportedly traveling aboard the 30-foot sailing vessel Mare on a voyage from the Bahamas to San Juan, Puerto Rico, when the vessel became dismasted, approximately 30 miles north of Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
Coast Guard watch standers at Sector San Juan, received a Mayday call at 1 p.m. on 2 February, via a VHF Channel 16 marine radio communication, from the vessel Mare requesting assistance.
Coast Guard Towed Dismasted Sailboat to Safe Harbor
A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and Station San Juan crew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat Medium responded to locate and assist the boaters.
Upon arriving on scene, the Coast Guard helicopter crew escorted the sailing vessel Mare until the Coast Guard boat crew placed the vessel in a stern tow and made way to the Club Nautico marina in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
Fire Destroys Boats, Dock at Marina in Rockwall, Texas
2/6/23 – Rockwall, TX
A large fire destroyed multiple boats at Chandler's Landing Marina in Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall, Texas. At least four boats and parts of the dock system were damaged on the afternoon of 6 February.
The Rockwall Fire Department explained that the weather had made responding difficult, as did the location. More than 40 firefighters from five agencies joined forces to put out the fire, with the cities of Rockwall and Dallas working to limit contamination in the lake.
The cause of the fire was unknown and under investigation.