COAST GUARD RESCUE OF 5 on Disabled TUG; Canadian Ocean Rescue Tug Atlantic Raven Saves the Day

Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound watchstanders communicate with a vessel in distress during a search and rescue case off the coast of La Push, Washington, October 18, 2024. The Coast Guard rescued five people from the 130-foot commercial tug Luther after it lost steering 10 miles from shore while towing a cement barge. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Briana Carter)LA PUSH, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES

10.18.2024

Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Briana Carter  

Coast Guard rescues 5 from tug after loss of steering off the coast of Washington.

Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound watchstanders communicate with a vessel in distress during a search and rescue case off the coast of La Push, Washington, October 18, 2024. The Coast Guard rescued five people from the 130-foot commercial tug Luther after it lost steering 10 miles from shore while towing a cement barge. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Briana Carter)

SEATTLE – The Coast Guard rescued five people from the 130-foot commercial tug Luther after it lost steering off the coast of La Push, Washington, 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.

The Luther began taking on water and the crew disconnected from the barge due to the weather conditions. Once disconnected, the Luther was able to stabilize and stay afloat while they prepared for a tow from the Lauren Foss.

While the tow was being set up, the adrift barge came close to the Luther and threatened to collide and all crew members were transferred to the 47-foot MLB.

During the transfer, one crew member fell into the water and was retrieved by the 47-foot MLB crew. Station Quillayute River transferred a crew member onto the Luther and the Lauren Foss attempted a tow but was unable to complete it after a line fouled in one of the Lauren Foss’s props and they had to return to shore.

After the first tow was unsuccessful, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Atlantic Raven, an ocean-going tug, arrived on scene along with Coast Guard Station Neah Bay and Air Station Port Angeles.

The crews were able to establish a tow and prevent the Luther from running aground while only 1 mile from shore. The Luther was taken to Port Angeles, and no injuries were reported. On-scene weather conditions were 10–14-foot seas and 45-kt winds.

The Coast Guard is actively working with partner agencies and the Canadian Coast Guard to locate the missing barge.

A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew forward-deployed to Great Inagua rescues crew members from the sunken 90-foot schooner De Gallant approximately 20 miles north of Great Inagua, May 21, 2024. The rescue crew hoisted six mariners who had escaped their sinking vessel after a storm caused the vessel to take on water. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy video)

 CCGS Atlantic Raven had a busy first week on the job in 2018 with the Western Fleet, responding to a disabled cargo ship off the southern West Coast of Vancouver Island. The Raven stood by to reduce the risk of an incident until the cargo ship was able to resume its voyage. CCGS Atlantic Raven is one of two new Emergency Offshore Tow Vessels, which are the first ships of their kind for the Canadian Coast Guard. They bring new response capacity to the West Coast of British Columbia and can respond to incidents in all conditions, including the storm-force winds and high seas experienced during this first response.