Coast Guard Rescues Three After Crab Boat Loses Propulsion and Collides With Jetties

The commercial crab fishing vessel SUNUP sunk in the entrance channel Humboldt Bay, Calif., January 24, 2021. The Coast Guard rescued the three people aboard the SUNUP after the vessel lost propulsion and collided with the jetties while attempting to transit through the entrance channel. (U. S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

The commercial crab fishing vessel SUNUP sunk in the entrance channel Humboldt Bay, Calif., January 24, 2021. The Coast Guard rescued the three people aboard the SUNUP after the vessel lost propulsion and collided with the jetties while attempting to transit through the entrance channel. (U. S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Press release from the US Coast Guard:

The Coast Guard rescued three people after their commercial crab fishing boat lost propulsion and collided with the jetties while attempting to transit through the entrance channel in Humboldt Bay, Sunday.

At approximately 6:20 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders received a distress call on VHF-FM channel 16 from the fishing vessel Sunup stating their vessel had propulsion problems and was on the south jetty rocks inside the channel.

Watchstanders dispatched a Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew and a Sector Humboldt Bay MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew.

The MLB crew arrived on scene at approximately 6:30 p.m. finding the Sunup mostly underwater. The crew retrieved two of the fishermen directly from the sinking boat and pulled the third fisherman from the water.

The use of VHF-FM channel 16 and an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) allowed Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders to quickly receive the crew’s distress call and pinpoint their location.

“The situation became grave when the third fisherman fell into the water with the other two clinging to the sinking vessel,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Ruben Colon, the rescue boat coxswain. “Without a doubt, staying with their vessel until the last minute enabled us to quickly find and rescue them.”

The three survivors were brought to Station Humboldt Bay with no reported medical concerns.

As a reminder, the Coast Guard encourages mariners to verify all required safety equipment is aboard and functioning properly prior to heading out to sea. Properly fitted immersion survival suits are the best way for mariners to survive in a cold-water environment until help arrives.

The commercial crab fishing vessel SUNUP is destroyed near the entrance channel in Humboldt Bay, Calif., January 24, 2021. The Coast Guard rescued the three people aboard the SUNUP after the vessel lost propulsion and collided with the jetties while attempting to transit through the entrance channel. (U. S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

Earlier: Vessel on the Rocks at the South Jetty; Three Rescued

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17 Comments
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Joe
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Joe
3 years ago

Third guy said, “Fuck that! I’ll take my chance with the sharks!”

Dave Sky
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Dave Sky
3 years ago

Thank you Coast Guard!

Chuck U
Guest
Chuck U
3 years ago

Hells ya!

ROBERT L. NESSIER
Guest
ROBERT L. NESSIER
3 years ago

Willy..tuna fishing?? God Bless our USCG..

ROBERT L. NESSIER
Guest
ROBERT L. NESSIER
3 years ago

Willy..tuna fishing?? So glad your all good and safe.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
3 years ago

Kudos to the Coast Guard. Glad the everyone is safely home.

It is sad to see the loss of the venerable old wooden boat. Does anyone make wooden boats anymore?

Night Crossing!
Guest
Night Crossing!
3 years ago

John Humboldt Gates. His book Night Crossing is all Humboldt Bay entrance ship wrecks AT NIGHT!

Lori Keating Wright
Guest
Lori Keating Wright
3 years ago

I love that book!

Martin
Guest
Martin
3 years ago

Three very lucky crab fisherman to be alive. As always, fast action by our Coast Guard men and women saved more lives. We are truly blessed to have them here. I feel very sorry the the owner of the vessel. Losing power, and having your boat and lively hood smashed beyond repair on the jetty rocks is very sad. They have a hard and dangerous enough life without that being dumped on them.

Z
Guest
Z
3 years ago

I’m so sorry they lost Sunup!
But super happy USCG saved the 3 men!!!

Pedro Colon
Guest
Pedro Colon
3 years ago

I am the proud father of petty -officer 1st class , Surfman Rubén Colón , the coxswain in charge of the 47 foot USCG boat who made the rescue along with three additional brave Coast Guard members.
My son is my best friend and my hero .
Thank you for your service guys .
SEMPER PARATUS

Angela Robinson
Guest
Angela Robinson
3 years ago
Reply to  Pedro Colon

Best wishes and appreciation to your son.

William
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William
3 years ago
Reply to  Pedro Colon

God bless your son sir his quick thinking saved my life I will forever be grateful Ruben Colon and his three crewmen are my heros

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
3 years ago

IMHO: Probably the same problem as the crab boat lost up by Patricks Point.

Engine failures on diesel boats are usually from the fuel filters getting plugged up.
Boat had probably been sitting at the dock for awhile. When out in a rough ocean it stirs up the sediments in the tank… and boom you’ve got an engine failure… sometimes at a bad time.

Bummer.

Old local
Guest
Old local
3 years ago

Yes, that book Night Crossings is intense! I suggest every surfer and fishermen that live around here read that. Perfect read this time of year

Bob Oglesby
Guest
Bob Oglesby
3 years ago

Good job USCG !

If anybody hasn’t read Night Crossings they’re missing an excellent collection of stories.