Coast Guard attempts to free grounded trawler off N.C. after rescuing crew and dog

OREGON INLET, N.C. - Coast Guard crews hoisted three people and their dog to safety Saturday morning as conditions worsened for the crew aboard a grounded fishing trawler on the Oregon Inlet Bar.

Friday night the 77-foot Sheila Rene's crew contacted Sector North Carolina watchstanders on VHF channel 16 requesting help after their trawler grounded on the bar. The watchstanders dispatched a Station Oregon Inlet 47-foot rescue boat crew at about 11:30 p.m. to dislodge the Sheila Rene, but were unable to free them.

Conditions worsened for the crew overnight and the Coast Guard deemed it unsafe for them to stay on the grounded trawler. An Air Station Elizabeth City MH-60J Jayhawk helicopter crew arrived at approximately 7 a.m., hoisted them off and delivered them to the station.

Coast Guard crews remain on scene and will attempt to free it through high tide at about 8:50 a.m.

(U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Elizabeth City)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Coast Guard
• CG
• USCG
• fishing
• trawler
• grounded
• bonner bridge
• dog
• animal
• pet
• oregon inlet
• rescue
• hoist

[USCGImagery]

Yes, that was the Bonner Bridge

[Scrubs2U]

I love our Coast Guard

[egyptahly]

god bless our coast guard

[davided1]

@OneRuhle

The USCG has NO OBLIGATION, nor do they have a responsibility to save property!!

I imagine the only reason they are attempting to move this FV is due to the danger to the bridge, and I'm sure the commercial towing companies were not able to get there quickly enough, and with large enough vessels to do any good.

Maybe the captain should have exercised more care in transiting that inlet so he/she wouldn't have PLACED the two persone in peril to begin with!!

[jazz1002]

@OneRuhle Thanks for your info. I have not found video clips of the Handful. Those that showed the CG attempt to pull the grounded trawler off the sand bar show a rather large USCG boat. Was it a shallow-draft that allowed it to get to the Handful? Why was the CG doing a salvage operation? Where was Sea-Tow? I guess I have not seen enough info to understand all the criticism.

[OneRuhle]

@jazz1002 to answer your question, I am related to one of the two fisherman left to fend for themselves as the fishing vessel Handful sank. Any and all acts necessary means the USCG had a DUTY TO ACT. They did absolutely nothing to help the fisherman on the Handful. Their actions were to watch from a safe distance and do nothing. Isnt that an example of dereliction of duty? What if the two men had been lost right before of their eyes?

[rareislandshell]

I'd be willing to wager that most of the fishermen would risk their own lives (like Tommy & Stevie did) to rescue the CG without any hesitation! Shame on the CG employees who failed to uphold the pledges that they swore to. In my simple mind, they need to be sent back to redo their basic training where they could relearn what their jobs actually are. What a disappointment the CG has become!

[jazz1002]

OneRuhle seems to have complaints but does not define the "any and all acts" that were not performed by the Coast Guard but required by law. With OneRuhle's multiple postings, is he an interested party in this incident.

[OneRuhle]

It is the USGCs job specified by LAW to help those who are in peril (persons & vessels). 2 men hanging on the side of a sinking vessel for nearly 30 minutes in January is clearly the definition of peril. The USCG should have performed any and all acts necessary to rescue and aid persons and protect and save property. Google USCG search & rescue, read their job description provided to the US House of Representatives in a hearing 9 29 09.

[OneRuhle]

The USCG Air Crew from Elizabeth City are the only members of the USCG during this ordeal that did their job professionally and did it well. We are lucky to have such skilled professionals looking after us. As for the USCG @ Oregon Inlet I can not say the same. The Boat-crews & command station in Wilmington demonstrated an arrogant ignorance in combination with incompetence that ultimately resulted in the loss of a vessel. THE USCG put civilians LIVES in DANGER then REFUSED TO ASSIST THEM.

[OneRuhle]

This film is complete bu#@^&*!. The vessel in this video is clearly still aground. The USCG did not free the vessel from the bar @ Oregon inlet on 01 02 10, mother nature did with high tide. Which explains how the vessel became a danger to the Bonner bridge. The USCG would did not release the vessel until Sunday 01 03 10. The salvage operation resulted in the loss of the FV Handful and nearly two civilians lives as the USCG clearly displayed an act of omission by failing to act.

[Lobsterlady2362]

I hate to say this people, yes the coast guard can do a great job, but I'm up on the East Coast and I can gusrantee you for sure the Coast Guard really screwed up bad twice. The last time cost 2 fishermen their lives. Anyway, that's what somew people think. If they responded sooner the men would of maybe had a better chance. Pretty sure one of the people in charge at Coast Guard Boston actually lost the job because of it. So they may be good but they also make dire mistakes.