Chukchi-Sea Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

**Title: Identification of Victims from 'Waynehoe' Barge Accident** **Content:** The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed the identities of the two crew members who tragically lost their lives in a confined space incident aboard the barge 'Waynehoe'. The victims are 21-year-old Ben Fowler from Sitka and 28-year-old Sidney Mohorovich hailing from Washington State. The accident, which prompted an immediate response from rescue teams, occurred on March 15, and has since led to an exhaustive investigation aimed at uncovering the circumstances leading to this tragic event. At approximately 9:14 a.m. on March 15, the crew aboard the tugboat reported a loss of communication with four individuals working inside a confined area on the barge. Emergency crews from the Coast Guard and the Ketchikan Fire Department swiftly mobilized to respond to the situation. By the end of that day, two of the crew members had been successfully recovered and were responsive, while one was retrieved later but sadly pronounced deceased shortly thereafter. The search for the final crew member continued, eventually leading to the unfortunate recovery and declaration of another fatality on March 17, after the barge was relocated to Ketchikan. In their efforts to safely access the confined space aboard the 'Waynehoe', the Coast Guard collaborated closely with local agencies in Ketchikan. The South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department (STVFD) played a pivotal role in the operation, with a paramedic and two EMTs accompanying Coast Guard personnel on the response vessel. Following the incident, the barge was towed by a Boyer Towing vessel to Ward Cove, situated north of Ketchikan. Additionally, the vessel 'Chukchi Sea', owned by Hamilton Marine Construction, returned to Ketchikan port on March 16. As the investigation unfolds, the Coast Guard remains committed to determining the cause of this tragedy in hopes of preventing future incidents.

**Title: Tragic Incident Claims Lives of Two Crew Members on Barge Near Ketchikan** In a heartbreaking confined space accident, two crew members lost their lives and two others sustained injuries aboard the freight barge 'Waynehoe', operated by Bellingham’s Hamilton Marine Construction. The incident occurred on March 15, 2026, approximately 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan, Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the tragedy involving four crew members. The deceased have been identified as Ben Fowler and Sidney Mohorovich, while the remaining two individuals were rescued and are currently in stable condition. The crisis began when the Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska in Juneau received a mayday call at 9:14 a.m. The distress signal reported that the crew aboard the 'Chukchi Sea' had lost communication with the four crew members who were inside a confined space while the barge was moored near Skowl Arm. Responding rapidly, a 45-foot boat from the Coast Guard Station Ketchikan was deployed, joined by personnel from the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department. By the time responders arrived on the scene, the crew of the tugboat had managed to recover one deceased crew member and provided assistance to the two survivors. Following their swift rescue efforts, the barge was towed to a pier in Ward Cove, north of Ketchikan, to facilitate ongoing recovery operations by a Boyer towing vessel. In a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard and the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department, recovery of the second deceased crew member was successfully completed on March 17. The Coast Guard is working diligently with partner agencies to investigate how the incident unfolded and to ensure safety protocols are reviewed. The South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department played a vital role in the emergency response, providing essential medical support for the Coast Guard's search and rescue operations. Currently, the cause of this tragic incident remains under investigation. The maritime community mourns the loss of Ben Fowler and Sidney Mohorovich as they remember their contributions to the industry. For more details, visit the report [here](https://www.juneauindependent.com/post/2-tugboat-crew-members-killed-in-mishap-on-barge-near-ketchikan).