The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call Sunday morning, December 14th, from the commercial fishing vessel VALOR III approximately three nautical miles west of Newport, Oregon.
With opening day for Commercial Dungeness Crab season Tuesday December 16th, Saturday and Sunday were considered ‘dump day’ where commercial crab vessels race to place crab pots before retrieving them Tuesday.
At approximately 9:41am Sunday morning, the 29 ft. commercial vessel Valor III reported the vessel was taking on water and at risk of capsizing with a full stack of crab pots and two crew members aboard, just over 3 miles off the Newport coast.
.The Coast Guard immediately launched a Coast Guard helicopter and 47 ft. Motor Life Boat crews from Station Yaquina Bay, while coordinating with state and local partner agencies.
All persons aboard were safely recovered from the water by responding crews, partner agencies, and a Good Samaritan vessel, that was reportedly the first vessel on the scene after the initial distress call.
Survivors were evaluated by local emergency medical services, and no serious injuries were reported.
