(SEATTLE) — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued five people from the 130-foot commercial tugboat Luther after it lost steering off the coast of La Push, Wash., on Friday afternoon.
At 4:10 p.m., the tug lost steering and was beset by weather while towing a concrete barge 10 miles off the coast of La Push and requested assistance from the Coast Guard. A 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) crew from Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, an MH-60 Jayhawk crew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, and the emergency tug Lauren Foss were launched to assist the distressed vessel.
Luther began taking on water and the crew disconnected from the barge due to the weather conditions. Once disconnected, Luther was able to stabilize and stay afloat while they prepared for a tow from Lauren Foss.
While the tow was being set up, the adrift barge came close to Luther and threatened to collide. All crewmembers were transferred to the 47-foot MLB.
During the transfer, one crewmember fell into the water and was retrieved by the MLB crew. Station Quillayute River transferred a crewmember onto Luther and Lauren Foss attempted a tow, but was unable to complete it after a line fouled in one of Lauren Foss’s propellers and they had to return to shore.
After the first tow was unsuccessful, the Canadian Coast Guard’s Atlantic Raven, an oceangoing tug, arrived on scene along with assets from Coast Guard Station Neah Bay and Air Station Port Angeles.
The crews were able to establish a tow and prevent Luther from running aground while only 1 mile from shore. Luther was taken to Port Angeles and no injuries were reported. On-scene weather conditions were 10-to-14-foot seas and 45-knot winds.
The Coast Guard was actively working with partner agencies and the Canadian Coast Guard to locate the missing barge.
Click here to listen to the tug crew’s radio communications during the incident.
– U.S. Coast Guard
