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Investigation Activity Report
POINT ESTERO, Grounding
Activity Start Date: Friday, July 28, 2017
MISLE Activity Number: 6228684
MISLE Originating Unit: Marine Safety Detachment Santa Barbara
MISLE Activity Owner: Commandant (CG-INV-3)
MISLE Activity Controller:
MISLE Case Number: Not Asscoiated with a Case

I. INCIDENT BRIEF
On 27JUL2017 the Commercial Fishing Vessel(CFV) POINT ESTERO (562816) was underway fishing near Estero Bay with 02 persons on board. The deckhand was not feeling good and went below deck to rest. At approximately 0345 on 28JUL17, the vessel propeller was fouled by a crab pot line and the operator disengaged the engine. The operator left the bridge to try and free the prop while the vessel continued to drift in poor visability. At approximately 0440, the vessel ran aground in Estero Bay at Estero Bluffs State Park in San Luis Obispo County, CA. The vessel operator attempted to remove the vessel from the shore at high tide utilizing a winch on board attached to an anchor positioned approximately 100 yards offshore. The anchor began to drag, the operator started the main prop for additional power and the line was fouled in the prop and parted. The vessel shifted towards shore approximately 45ft due to tidal surge and swell conditions. The vessel appeared to remain intact with no water ingress and no hull penetrations. Vessel operator and deckhand safely departed the vessel as the low tide cycle approached at approximately 1840. Vessel operator discussed oil removal plans and casualty data with on scene CG personnel and vessel was later determined to be a total loss. As a result of its investigation, the Coast Guard has determined the initiating event for this casualty was the fouling of the vessel's propeller. This was followed by the vessel set adrfit in poor visability and then running agound. Factors that contributed to this grounding include: (1) The vessel operator did not use prudent seamanship to plot the vessel's location using all available resources; (2) Operators lack of mariner training and navigation skills; (3) Weather conditions during the incident with dense fog; (4) lack of federal regulation to require commercial fishing vessel operators to have a CG issued credential, and (5) lack of federal regulation to require CFVs to be equipped with radar or other grounding avoidance navigation equipment. ********************************************************************************************** The Coast Guard issued the owner of CFV POINT ESTERO a Federal Notice of Assumption for the mitigation of the threat of pollution from the vessel. MSD Santa Barbara FOSCR opened the OSTLF under FPN A17020 for $50,000, and Global Diving and Salvage was contracted to remove all oil and house hold hazmat onboard.

II. INCIDENT SUMMARY
Incident Involved: Marine Casualty, Reportable
Level of Investigation: Informal
IMO Classification: Routine
USCG Classification: Routine
Was This a Serious Marine Incident? No
Was a Marine Board Convened by Commandant? No
Personal Casualty Summary Vessel(s) Status Summary Property Damage Summary
Total Missing: 0
Total Dead: 0
Total Injured: 0
At Risk, Not Injured: 2
Total Not at Risk: 0
Total at Risk: 2
Actual Total Loss(es): 0
Total Constructive Loss, Salvaged: 0
Total Constructive Loss, Unsalvaged: 1
Damaged: 0
Undamaged: 0
Total Damage:
Vessel(s): $65000
Cargo: $0
Facility: $0
Other: $0

*May Include Estimates*

III. ACTIONS IN REPONSE TO THIS REPORT
Actions on Recommendations:

NO RECORDED DATA
Safety Alerts:

NO RECORDED DATA

IV. FINDINGS OF FACT
Subjects of the Investigation
Involved Vessel(s) Involved Facilities

Vessel Name: POINT ESTERO
VIN: 562816
Role: Involved in a Marine Casualty

NO RECORDED DATA
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Involved Parties Involved Organizations

Party Name: Removed for Privacy
Party Name: Removed for Privacy

NO RECORDED DATA
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Response Resources Waterway Segment(s)

NO RECORDED DATA

Waterway: Estero Bay
For additional response details, please click here. For additional waterway details, please click here.

V. REFERRAL FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION

NO RECORDED DATA
Last Update:
Monday, March 25, 2024