LA PUSH — Five people were rescued from a 130-foot commercial tug after it lost steering off the coast of La Push.
At about 4:10 p.m. Friday afternoon, personnel onboard the tug Luther notified the Coast Guard that the vessel had lost steering after being “beset by weather,” according to a Coast Guard press release.
The Luther was towing a concrete barge about 10 miles off the coast of La Push when it encountered 50 mph winds and waves between 6 and 20 feet, according to the press release.
A 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from the Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, an MH-60 crew from the Coast Guard Air Station Astoria and an emergency tug, Lauren Foss, responded to the call.
While waiting, the Luther began taking on water. The tug crew disconnected the Luther from the barge, which allowed the Luther to stabilize and stay afloat while crews prepared it for a tow from the Lauren Foss.
Soon afterward, the adrift barge threatened to collide with the Luther, so the crew members were transferred to the motor lifeboat.
During the transfer, one crew member fell into the water and was quickly retrieved by the motor lifeboat crew, according to the press release.
After securing the crew, one motor lifeboat crew member was transferred onto the Luther to assist setting up the tow. However, the Lauren Foss had to head back to shore without the Luther after one of the tow lines ended up tangling in Lauren Foss’ propeller.
No injuries were reported and all crew members were brought safely back to shore, according to Coast Guard petty officer second class Briana Carter.
At 3:20 a.m. Saturday morning, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Atlantic Raven, an ocean-going tug, arrived on scene with the Coast Guard Station Neah Bay and Air Station Port Angeles. At that point, the Luther was about 1 mile from shore.
Over the next few hours, the crews established a tow and prevented the Luther from running aground. The Luther was then towed to Port Angeles by the Atlantic Raven in the morning.
After that, it was transferred to the tug Crowley and towed to Seattle, where it was safely moored as of 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Carter said.
The Coast Guard and partner agencies then located the concrete barge, which was loaded with 10,000 tons of cement mix and 1,200 gallons of diesel fuel from an onboard generator.
The barge was found 5 miles west of Cape Alava about 8 p.m. Saturday night, Carter said.
Since then, the Coast Guard has been watching the barge, as low visibility and high waves have postponed the ability to tow it back to shore.
Carter said there were plans in place to tow it to Seattle, although she was unsure when that would take place.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
