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Subscribe to RSSASTORIA, Ore. - Authorities say four fishermen are missing after Coast Guard helicopters spotted a debris field and an oil sheen several miles off the Washington coast.
The Coast Guard says the emergency beacon from an Oregon-based fishing boat led rescuers to the debris field early Saturday.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Shawn Eggert says the ship's owner told them four people were aboard the 62-foot fishing vessel Lady Cecelia. Helicopter crews spotted a damaged lifeboat but no sign of the four people.
The debris field is about 17 miles west of Leadbetter Point near Willapa Bay. Crews were searching the water near Seaview, Wash.
The boat's home port is in Warrenton, Ore.
An MH-60 helicopter crew from Sector Columbia River, along with two 47-foot motor lifeboat crews from Station Grays Harbor and Station Cape Disappointment, were dispatched to the scene after an EPIRB distress signal from the vessel was received at 3:47 a.m.
Coast Guard crews found the debris field when they arrived to the signal's source.
The Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk and an HH-65 helicopter crew from Port Angeles, a 52-foot motor lifeboat from Station Cape Disappointment and a second MH-60 helicopter crew from Astoria joined the search, along with a C-130 search plane crew from Air Station Sacramento, Calif.
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I hope and pray for the crews safe return!
Why do people always clamor that mountain climbers and lost hikers should pay for their rescues, but never a peep about fishermen paying for their Coast Guard rescues even though they venture out into storms when advised not to by the NWS.
No I do NOT think they should pay. I think all rescues should be free, that is what we pay taxes for-- insurance for making mistakes like we all do. It's why we have a fire dept paid for with taxes, right? To save people from screw-ups
The difference is between those out tempting fate for fun and the guy who has to spend two weeks on a tub working four on and four off to pay his bills. A sixty two footer wasn't a beer party.
In some ways the Coast Guard is a taxi service for the fishing fleet - among the people I most respect are open water swimmers.
I agree with you, but then you have to consider counties that make people pay an additional fire services fee, or risk watching their house burn up while the fire department sits at the end of the road.
The boat got blow-up and they found debris.
more then likely. it broke apret when sinking .