The abandoned fishing vessel Chevelle on the Yaquina Bay entrance north jetty the day after grounding.

​​The abandoned fishing vessel Chevelle on the Yaquina Bay entrance north jetty the day 

after grounding. (Photo by Ed Chauvaud)

Grounding and Loss of the F/V Chevelle

What Happened

The fishing vessel Chevelle was returning to its homeport of Newport, Oregon, when a series of large breaking waves on its stern resulted in a loss of maneuverability and grounding on the Yaquina Bay entrance north jetty on March 10, 2012. The crew was hoisted to safety by a US Coast Guard helicopter before the vessel broke apart and sank more than a day later, resulting in an estimated loss of $625,000. No one was injured.

What We Found

​We determined that the probable cause of the ​​grounding and subsequent loss of the Chevelle as it crossed the Yaquina Bay bar was the master’s loss of control of the fishing vessel after a series of breaking waves on the stern heeled the vessel to a severe degree from which it did not recover. 

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