Coast Guard Urges Mariners to Inspect Vessel Moorings During Storm

[Photo from the US Coast Guard]

The Coast Guard urges mariners and vessel owners to inspect vessel moorings due to high flood warnings and fast moving currents for all rivers in Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.

 

An example of a boat that broke free from its moorings occurred this morning when Coast Guard Station Noyo River received several calls reporting a 55-foot charter vessel named TREK II breaking free off its moorings inside the Noyo River basin in Ft Bragg, CA. The Coast Guard quickly sent crews aboard two 47-foot Motor Life Boats to attempt to secure the TREK II but due to the high speed of the river current, reported at 6-8 knots inside the basin and speeding up to 12 knots at the Noyo River jetties, they were not able to recover the adrift vessel. The TREK II grounded itself on rocks a few hundred yards of the north jetty tip, below Soldier Point Park. No one was onboard, and no injuries were reported.

 

The Coast Guard Chief of Response for the California North Coast Sector, CDR Brendan Hilleary advises “owners must routinely verify their vessel and mooring line conditions during periods of adverse weather, extreme high tides and fast river flows”. Citizens are encouraged to call 911, or call the Coast Guard directly at (707) 964-6612 in the Ft Bragg region, or (707) 839-6113 for any California North Coast maritime incident.