US Coast Guard begins probe into fatal confined space incident near Ketchikan, Alaska

Coast Guard watchstanders directed the launch of a 45-foot (14-metre) response boat-medium (RB-M) crew from Coast Guard Station Ketchikan with members from the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department aboard to respond to the incident.

While the RB-M was en route, the crew of the tug recovered one deceased crewmember and assisted two others out of the confined space.

To ensure a safe and thorough response, the barge was towed to a pier in Ketchikan. In a coordinated, multi-agency effort, the body of the second deceased crewmember was recovered from the confined space on Tuesday, March 17.

"This is a heartbreaking reminder that confined spaces on vessels can contain extremely dangerous, invisible hazards," said Captain Stanley Fields, Commander of Sector Southeast Alaska. "The coast guard is committed to a thorough investigation to understand what happened and prevent a tragedy like this from occurring again."