The Coast Guard assisted a 62’ whale watching vessel carrying 49 passengers after it became disabled Wednesday, Sept. 17, while transiting the coastal bar near Yaquina Bay, Newport, Ore.
At approximately 12:45 p.m., the captain of the Discovery issued a mayday call reporting excessive smoke and loss of propulsion between the Yaquina Bay jetties. Watchstanders at Sector Columbia River immediately dispatched two 47’ motor lifeboats from Station Yaquina Bay, the Coast Guard said in a press release. Crews were on scene within eight minutes.
Once alongside, Coast Guard crews secured the vessel in a side tow and escorted it eastbound back to the pier, where Newport Fire Department and Pacific West Ambulance personnel were standing by. The Discovery was safely moored by 1:30 p.m. All passengers and crew disembarked so firefighters could assess the vessel. No medical concerns were reported, and there was no fire aboard, the Coast Guard said. By 2 p.m., all responding crews had stood down. The reason for the loss of propulsion has not yet been reported.
“Our crews at Station Yaquina Bay had a great response to this call,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Kapsar. “Our communications watchstander received the ‘mayday’ call, immediately activated the SAR alarm, and we were on scene in under 10 minutes. We launched two boats due to the number of passengers on board and the severity of the incident. We were able to quickly get the Discovery back to her moorage where we were met by our local fire and EMS counterparts. This rescue highlights the importance of our interagency relationships. Station members train for incidents such as this, and we’re glad that we were able to get everyone back safely.”
The Coast Guard said the incident occurred in an area known as a coastal bar, a hazardous environment where river currents meet the ocean. Sand and sediment deposits form shallow underwater barriers, and when combined with ocean swells, the conditions can create turbulent, unpredictable waters. The Coast Guard noted that vessels caught broadside in such conditions risk being capsized if not handled properly.
