ASTORIA, Ore. - A Coast Guard Sector Columbia River MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew lowers a pump to a sinking fishing vessel off the coast of Washington State, Friday, Oct. 12, 2012.
The vessel sank but the two people on board were rescued by 47-foot motor lifeboat crews from Station Grays Harbor in Westport, Wash.
U.S. Coast Guard video by Sector Columbia River, Ore.
ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard rescued two men from a sinking vessel near Queets, Wash., Friday.
Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor in Westport, Wash., received a report from crew of the fishing vessel Koprindo that the vessel was taking on water approximately 15 miles west of Queets within the Olympic Marine Sanctuary.
Two 47-foot motor lifeboat crews from Grays Harbor along with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria were launched to the scene with dewatering pumps. Two pumps were lowered to the Koprindo from the helicopter, but dewatering efforts could not keep up with flow of water onto the vessel and the crew and assisting Coast Guard members were forced to abandon ship.
The men were removed to one of the motor lifeboats and taken to Grays Harbor while the second motor lifeboat stayed on scene to mark the vessel's location and watch for signs of pollution. There are reported to be from 400-500 gallons of diesel on board the vessel.
For more information concerning this case, contact the Coast Guard public affairs office at 503-861-6237.