2 tugboat crew members killed in ‘confined space incident’ on barge, Coast Guard says

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An investigation is underway after two crew members of a tugboat were killed and two others were harmed in what the Coast Guard described Wednesday as a “confined space incident” aboard a barge moored in southeast Alaska.

A news release from the agency provided limited details about what happened to the four, but it said they were in a confined space in the freight barge Waynehoe, moored about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Ketchikan, on Sunday morning, when other crew members from their tug, the Chukchi Sea, lost contact with them.

Federal regulations define “confined space” on a vessel as “a compartment of small size and limited access such as a double bottom tank, cofferdam, or other space which by its small size and confined nature can readily create or aggravate a hazardous exposure.” That could include a lack of oxygen.

The tugboat crew called the Coast Guard for help and managed to recover one of the dead crewmembers from the confined space and helped the two survivors exit before the rescue team arrived. The body of the second victim was not recovered until after the barge was towed to a pier in Ketchikan “to ensure a safe and thorough response,” the Coast Guard said.

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The two survivors were reported to be in stable condition, the Coast Guard statement said. The two killed were identified as Ben Fowler and Sidney Mohorovich.

“Our deepest condolences are with the families and colleagues of the crewmembers affected by this tragic incident,” said Coast Guard Capt. Stanley Fields, commander of Sector Southeast Alaska. “This is a heartbreaking reminder that confined spaces on vessels can contain extremely dangerous, invisible hazards.”