Skipper rescued from sinking ship

The vessel is homeported in Westport

By The Daily World • October 24, 2016 1:30 am
The Pacific Rim fishing vessel hit submerged rocks at Pt. Chehalis early Sunday morning, rolled onto its side, and drifted into South Bay. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Beresh)
The Pacific Rim fishing vessel hit submerged rocks at Pt. Chehalis early Sunday morning, rolled onto its side, and drifted into South Bay. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Beresh)

The Coast Guard rescued a commercial fisherman after the fishing vessel Pacific Rim hit a submerged object just outside the Westport Marina and began taking on water early Sunday morning.

Michael Carroll, 70, was rescued by a Station Grays Harbor boat crew aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat. He was transferred to emergency medical services at the Westport Marina and was treated for symptoms related to hypothermia while being transported to Grays Harbor Community Hospital.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, Ore., received a mayday call from the captain of the fishing vessel Pacific Rim at 3:51 a.m., reporting the vessel was taking on water and listing hard to starboard. The watchstander immediately directed the launch of an MLB crew. Carroll was rescued at about 4:15 a.m.

The Pacific Rim is a 60-foot fishing vessel homeported in Westport.

At the time of the sinking the Pacific Rim had 250 gallons of diesel fuel on board. Pollution responders from the Incident Management Division at Sector Columbia River are responding.

A Safety Marine Information Broadcast is being transmitted to remind boaters to be on the lookout for the partially submerged vessel, which is reportedly drifting south with the tide.