NEAH BAY — U.S. Coast Guard crews were on their way to assist at least one Makah tribal fishing vessel taking on water after pounding waves smashed windows in the trawler’s cabin late Wednesday.
As of 10:15 p.m., a Coast Guard motor lifeboat from Neah Bay was en route to the 36-foot Maiya Ann, which reportedly began taking on water approximately 20 miles west of Cape Flattery.
Coast Guard officials reported 60 mph winds and seas of up to 12 feet had damaged the navigation equipment of the Neah Bay-based Maiya Ann.
The motor life boat was expected to rendezvous with the tribal vessel and escort it and its crew of three to Neah Bay, possibly arriving as early as 2 a.m. today.
The distress call was the second received by the Coast Guard from a vessel west of Cape Flattery.
Around 2 p.m., the 43-foot fishing vessel Last Watch of Neah Bay began taking on water 40 miles off the coast, Seattle-based Coast Guard Petty Officer Anthony Juarez said.
A helicopter from the Port Angeles air station and another from Astoria, Ore., were dispatched to the trawler to lower two water pumps to the ailing trawler and its crew of four, Juarez said.
As of 10:15 p.m., Coast Guard officials said the pumps had been effective in reducing the amount of water aboard the trawler, which was being escorted by another fishing boat back to Neah Bay.
Last Watch was also expected to arrive at Makah Marina possibly as early as 2 a.m.
Coast Guard officials were not immediately sure if the Last Watch is part of the Makah fleet.
