#MotivationMonday Communication and teamwork can make all the difference!
Last Friday, the USCG rescued five people from the 130-foot commercial tug, M/V Luther, after it lost steering off the coast of La Push, Washington.
At 4:10 p.m., the tug lost steering in heavy weather and the crew requested assistance from the Coast Guard. A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) from U.S. Coast Guard Station Quillayute River and the emergency response tug M/V Lauren Foss were launched to assist the distressed vessel, while an aircrew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria took off to provide aerial support and overwatch.
The M/V Luther and the barge began taking on water and the crew was forced to disconnect the barge. Once disconnected, the M/V Luther was able to stabilize and stay afloat while they prepared for a tow from the M/V Lauren Foss.
While the tow was being set up, the separated barge drifted close to the M/V Luther and threatened to collide with the tug. The tug's crews abandoned ship and transferred to the Coast Guard's 47-foot MLB from Station Quillayute River.
During the transfer, one of the tug crewmembers fell into the water but was promptly rescued by the Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard crew member then transferred onto the M/V Luther to assist with setting up the tow with the M/V Lauren Foss, but the tow was unsuccessful when a line fouled in one of the M/V Lauren Foss’s props and they had to return to safe harbor.
After the first tow was unsuccessful, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Atlantic Raven, an ocean-going tug, arrived on the scene along with a second 47-foot MLB crew from Coast Guard Station Neah Bay and a relief flight from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles.
The crews were able to establish a tow and prevent the M/V Luther from running aground with only 1 mile remaining to shore.
The Luther was taken to Port Angeles and no injuries were reported. On-scene weather conditions were 10–14-foot seas and 45-kts winds.
#Teamwork #Rescue #PNW #SAR
