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| Press Release | Date: July 5, 2006 (206) 220-7237
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COAST GUARD REMINDS BOATERS OF ROUGH RIVER BAR DANGERS | |
| SEATTLE - The Coast Guard would like to remind boaters that crossing Coastal River Bars can be hazardous and that mariners should heed warnings of adverse conditions before heading out. River bars are formed at the entrance of rivers where estuary waters meet the ocean, creating a dangerously shallow area that is adversely affected by tide and ocean swell causing abnormal and sometimes dangerous sea conditions and is not always visible. Often, powerful currents and breaking waves form on river entrances, making those areas even more dangerous to mariners. The Coast Guard monitors the sea conditions of many river bars and will post warnings or restrict recreational boats and small commercial passenger vessels from crossing the bar when hazardous conditions exist. On June 27, after the Coast Guard issued such a restriction, an inspected passenger vessel ran into trouble and was swamped by waves on the Coquille River bar near Bandon, Ore. The 38-foot charter fishing boat, with six passengers aboard, was struck by six to eight foot breaking waves, knocking out two windows and pushing the vessel towards a nearby rock jetty before the master gained control and guided the boat across the bar. There were no reports of injuries. A 47-foot motor lifeboat from Coast Guard Station Coquille River safely escorted the vessel back to Bandon. Mariners are encouraged to listen for local rough bar warnings or restrictions on VHF channel 16. If boating in the local areas of Depoe Bay, Ore., Newport, Ore. or Winchester Bay, Ore., you can hear local bar conditions and restrictions by tuning to 1610 AM on your radio. Boaters can also contact Coast Guard stations listed below by phone for a local bar report. Weather Phone Business Phone Chetco River, Ore. 541-469-4571 541-469-2242 Rogue River, Ore. (Memorial Day to Labor day, WX and Business) 541-247-7219 Coquille River, Ore (Memorial Day to Labor day, WX and Business) 541-347-2038 Coos Bay, Ore. 541-888-3102 541-888-3267 Umpqua River, Ore 541-271-8417 541-271-2138 Siuslaw River, Ore. 541-902-7792 541-997-2486 Yaquina Bay, Ore. 541-265-5511 541-265-5381 Depoe Bay, Ore. 541-765-2122 541-765-2122 Tillamook Bay, Ore. 503-322-3234 503-322-3531 Nehalem River, Ore. 503-322-3234 503-322-3531 Columbia River 360-642-3565 360-642-2382 Grays Harbor, Wash. 360-268-0622 360-268-0121 Quillayute River, Wash. 360-374-6993 360-374-6469
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