U.S. Coast Guard Rescues Tug Crew After It Lost Steering While Towing A Barge Off Washington Coast
The U.S. Coast Guard successfully rescued five crew members from the 130-foot commercial tug Luther on Friday after it lost steering while towing a barge off the La Push, Washington coast.
The harsh weather worsened the situation, necessitating an urgent call for help.
The incident began around 4:10 p.m. when Luther towed a concrete barge and reported losing steering about 10 miles off the coast. The crew contacted the Coast Guard for help while trying to control the stormy weather.
The Coast Guard deployed a Motor Lifeboat from Station Quillayute River, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Astoria, and an emergency tug, Lauren Foss.
Luther began to take in the water shortly after losing control due to the rough seas. The crew decided to detach the tug from the barge, enabling the tug to stay afloat while waiting for a tow from the Lauren Foss to manage the situation.
However, issues occurred during the rescue attempt. While the Lauren Foss prepared to tow the Luther, the adrift barge approached dangerously close to the tug, threatening a collision.
The five crew members were immediately evacuated from the Luther to the Coast Guard’s MLB vessel. During the transfer, one crew member fell overboard but was quickly rescued by the MLB crew.
Efforts to tow the Luther were complicated when a line got stuck in one of the Lauren Foss’ propellers, requiring the tug to return to shore for repairs.
After the first tow attempt failed, further help arrived on the scene, including the Canadian Coast Guard ship Atlantic Raven and personnel from Coast Guard Station Neah Bay and Air Station Port Angeles.
The combined efforts of these crews stopped the Luther from running aground, even though it had drifted within one mile of the shore.
The tug was safely towed to Port Angeles, and no casualties have been reported among the crew. Weather conditions at the time of the rescue were 10 to 14-foot seas and winds reaching up to 45 knots.
Authorities are still working with partner agencies and the Canadian Coast Guard to find the missing barge, which was left adrift after the crew disconnected from it.
Reference: USCG
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