Port Closures for All of Pacific Northwest Entrances
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.
USCG Closes Siuslaw River Bar Entrance
The Coast Guard Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Oregon, issued the closure of the Siuslaw River bar entrance due to hazardous conditions at approximately 2 p.m., Saturday. The bar closure applies to all vessels. Any request to transit the bar prior to reopening must be approved by the Captain of the Port. Mariners may contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 for further information or to request crossing. The Coast Guard will re-evaluate the bar closure on an ongoing basis and will re-open the waterway as soon as the offshore weather improves. The Coast Guard understands the effects these closures have on commerce and will make every effort to re-open the bar as soon as it is considered safe for navigation.
Coast Guard Closes Siuslaw River Bar Entrance
The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Ore., issued the closure of the Siuslaw River bar entrance due to hazardous conditions at approximately 2:30 p.m., Tuesday. The bar closure applies to all vessels. Any request to transit the bar prior to reopening must be approved by the Captain of the Port. Mariners may contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM Channel 16 for further information or to request crossing. The Coast Guard will reevaluate the bar closure on an ongoing basis and will reopen the waterway as soon as the offshore weather improves. The Coast Guard understands the effects these closures have on commerce and will make every effort to re-open the river bar as soon as it is considered safe for navigation. uscgnews.com
Coast Guard Detains Vessel in Portland
The Coast Guard has since Sunday taken action in three unrelated marine safety cases, which has protected the environment, protected mariners and protected the maritime transportation system in the port of Portland, Oregon. Sector Columbia River’s recent activity began around 11 a.m. Sunday with notification from the 648-foot car carrier Morning Spruce of the vessel’s loss of engine power while 12 miles southwest of the Columbia River bar, leaving the vessel adrift in 12-foot seas. The Coast Guard Captain of the Port issued an order directing the owner of the Morning Spruce to immediately contract for tow vessels to hold the ship offshore. In addition to its cargo, the Morning Spruce was reportedly carrying a combined 543,000 gallons of heavy oil, diesel and lube oil.
Coast Guard Recovers Person from Search Area
A Coast Guard helicopter crew located and recovered a person from the water in the search area of the sunken tug Primo Brusco 27 nautical miles northwest off Florence, Ore. The man, who was wearing an immersion-type suit, exhibited no vital signs and was transported aboard the helicopter back to Coast Guard Air Station North Bend. The man's identity is being determined by the Coos Bay coroner. The Coast Guard has suspended the search. Coast Guard Capt. Darrell Folsom, commander of search and rescue operations, has contacted the family of the missing mariner. In the early hours of Monday morning, the tug Primo Brusco sank 20 miles west of Florence, Ore. A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued four of the five men who abandoned ship.
