Major virus outbreak hits factory trawler

Eighty-six crewmembers on the factory trawler American Dynasty reportedly have tested positive for COVID-19.

Seattle-based American Seafoods operates the 272-foot trawler.

Ailing crewman hoisted off factory trawler

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter today conducted a medevac off the Bering Sea factory trawler American Dynasty.

The patient, 59, was suffering from a possible appendicitis, the Coast Guard said.

A complete loss of electrical power, and then...

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada recently concluded its investigation into just how the factory trawler American Dynasty rammed a docked navy frigate last year at Victoria.

Coast Guard flies American Dynasty medevac

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter today rescued a 48-year-old man on the Bering Sea factory trawler American Dynasty about 95 miles northwest of Cold Bay.

The man was reported to be suffering from severe abdominal pain, the Coast Guard said.

Victoria allision under investigation

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating Tuesday's mash-up at Victoria between the factory trawler American Dynasty and the Canadian navy frigate HMCS Winnipeg.

From the look of these photos, the warship got the best of it!

American Dynasty hits Canadian navy frigate

Media reports out of Victoria, British Columbia, say the factory trawler American Dynasty yesterday crashed into a docked Canadian warship.

Here's a report from the Times Colonist of Victoria.

And here's another report with better video of the bizarre mishap.

The 272-foot American Dynasty belongs to Seattle-based American Seafoods. It's one of several factory trawlers the company operates in the Bering Sea pollock fishery.

The news reports say tugs were moving the trawler for maintenance when the incident occurred.

Six people were said to be injured, apparently none seriously.

Feds propose $543,500 fine, charge fish-weighing violations on factory trawler American Dynasty

The American Dynasty in Dutch Harbor. Jim Paulin photo

The first we heard of a potential scandal involving the Bering Sea pollock factory trawler American Dynasty was more than four years ago, at a meeting of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Federal agents said at the time that they were investigating allegations that hauls of fish were inaccurately weighed aboard the 272-foot trawler, which belongs to Seattle-based American Seafoods.

Well, now we know more.

The NOAA Office of the General Counsel, Enforcement Section, says the vessel owner, manager and operator have been charged with numerous civil infractions.

A NOAA case summary doesn't specify exactly when the charges were filed, just sometime during the first six months of the year.

The agency is proposing a $543,500 fine.

Here's the full NOAA summary on the enforcement action, beginning with the file number:

AK0700698; F/V American Dynasty — Owner, manager, and operator were charged in thirty-two counts under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act for failing to maintain or operate a flow scale to obtain accurate weights; for submitting inaccurate or false data, statements or reports; for failing to comply with flow scale testing requirements; for failing to provide notification to an observer and failing to have an observer present; for failing to comply with reporting requirements; and for failing to weigh catch, interfering with or biasing the observer's sampling procedure, and failing to provide reasonable assistance. A $543,500 NOVA (Notice of Violation and Assessment) was issued.

Factory trawler sustains serious damage

American Dynasty's scorched superstructure. USCG photo

From the look of photos the U.S. Coast Guard released today, the fire aboard the American Seafoods factory trawler American Dynasty caused some pretty nasty damage.

Here's the Coast Guard press release:

March 19, 2010

Coast Guard investigates at-sea vessel fire

ANCHORAGE — Coast Guard Sector Anchorage is investigating an engine room fire that burned for more than three hours March 10 onboard the fishing vessel American Dynasty 50 miles northwest of Cold Bay.

"We are working to understand what caused the fire," said Lt. Cmdr. Brad Clare, Sector Anchorage chief of inspections division. "We have investigators in Dutch Harbor working with the ship owners to ensure proper temporary repairs are made before allowing the vessel to transit safely to Seattle for permanent repairs."

The 286-foot Seattle-based American Dynasty had reported a fire aboard the vessel, with a crew of 137. After a three-hour battle using three fire fighting teams, the crew extinguished the fire with no reported injuries or fatalities.

Upon receiving notification of the fire, the 17th Coast Guard District command center in Juneau launched the ready HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Anchorage, two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters from St. Paul, and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Cold Bay. The cutters Munro and Alex Haley were also diverted.

Upon receiving notification of the fire being extinguished, all Coast Guard assets were ordered to stand down except for the Kodiak-based Munro, which escorted the American Dynasty to Dutch Harbor.

The Coast Guard investigators in Dutch Harbor are working in cooperation with marine surveyors to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.