Winchester Bay News

Last month, Birdon delivered the ninth and tenth boats for its 47’ Motor Lifeboat (MLB) Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Since the contract award in 2019, Birdon has established full-rate production facilities on both the East and West coasts to facilitate the delivery process. Birdon said it remains on schedule to complete work for up to 117 47’ MLBs by 2029.On June 9, Birdon delivered the ninth boat for the Coast Guard’s 47’ MLB SLEP. The vessel was completed in Birdon’s Bellingham, Wash.

An ailing fisherman was medevaced by U.S. Coast Guard aircrews Thursday roughly nine miles west of Winchester Bay, Oregon. The man, reportedly suffering from a seizure, was hoisted from fishing vessel Hecate by an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend at about 11 a.m. and was transferred to waiting EMS at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in stable condition. Watchstanders at Sector North Bend were notified of the man’s condition at about 1 a.m.…

A Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a fisherman who had reportedly suffered a seizure aboard the fishing vessel Hecate, about 9 miles west of Winchester Bay, Thursday morning. An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend safely hoisted the man at about 11 a.m. and transferred him to waiting EMS at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in stable condition. Watchstanders at Sector North Bend were notified of the man’s condition at about 1 a.m., Thursday morning, and coordinated with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended the vessel transit toward Coast Guard Station Umpqua River. “We had the captain of the boat conferenced in with the flight surgeon and they were going to try and make it to where they could transfer to our small boat…

The Coast Guard's two Captains of the Port have closed all maritime entrances in the Pacific Northwest, Friday, due to severe  sea conditions and large amounts of debris in the water. In Oregon, the ports of Chetco River in Brookings; Coos Bay; Umpqua River in Winchester Bay; Siuslaw River in Florence; Yaquina Bay in Newport; Depoe Bay; Tillamook Bay in Girabaldi; and the Columbia River are closed to all traffic. In Washington the port of Grays Harbor in Westport; and Quillayute River in LaPush are closed. Several storms carrying strong winds and heavy rainfall crossed the Pacific Northwest over the last week and have caused flooding and landslides in parts of Oregon and Washington.

Richard J. An Oregon charter fishing boat captain was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment today in federal court in Portland. Richard J. Oba, of Winchester Bay, was the owner and captain of the Sydney Mae II, a 38 foot boat Oba used to conduct fishing charters. On September 19, 2005, Oba steered the boat into dangerous waters after being warned to stay away by the U. S. Coast Guard. The boat was struck by large wave and sunk off the Umpqua River Bar, killing three passengers. Oba had pled guilty to three counts of Seaman’s Manslaughter, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1115. The Honorable Ancer L. Haggerty, Chief Judge, agreed with prosecutors that Oba had acted recklessly, and upwardly departed to sentence Oba to 6 years. The sentence is believed to be the longest ever in this type of case.

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon stated that the captain of a charter fishing boat operating out of Winchester Bay, Oregon was indicted on three counts of seaman’s manslaughter following the deaths of three passengers. The deaths occurred when the boat sank while trying to cross the Umpqua River Bar in bad conditions. The U.S. Coast Guard had imposed restrictions on the Bar due to the conditions and the fishing boat captain was specifically advised of those restrictions. He attempted to cross the Bar regardless. If convicted, the captain faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. source: HK Law