US Coast Guard and Seattle Fire Department personnel responded to and dewatered a vessel that was taking on water off Alki Beach, on Sunday August 26. The 48-foot yacht was later terminated because of unsafe operating conditions after the USCG found multiple violations in a post search and rescue boarding.
Violations and unsafe conditions included:
- Loose and hanging wires in the bilge;
- Open gas containers;
- Unsecured deck plates;
- No pollution placard;
- No garbage placard;
- No state registration displayed on the outside of the vessel.
Watchstanders at US Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received notification from Seattle Police Department personnel that the yacht, with two people onboard, was taking on water half a mile off Alki Beach.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
Sector watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast, while a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from US Coast Guard Station Seattle and a Seattle Fire Department crew aboard Fire Boat 2 responded.
Additional fire department personnel arrived at Alki Beach to locate the vessel from shore. Visibility was so limited, crews could not locate the vessel until the people onboard shot off a flare.
Once on scene, USCG and fire department crews removed 100 gallons of water and the cause of the flooding appeared to be mechanical.
The US Coast Guard boat crew towed the vessel to the Elliot Bay Marina where they conducted the post-SAR boarding.
Weather reported as overcast with rain, upwards of 17-mph winds and 5-miles of visibility.
