NEGLIGENT NAVIGATION: The Tragedy of USCGC Blackthorn

Comments · 1.3K

• BR

  @BrickImmortar · 2 years ago (edited) · pinned

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• TE

  @tekman196 · 2 years ago

  My father is a retired US NAVY Master diver . He worked the salvage operation of the blackthorn . I remember as a kid him telling us all the stories about this accident. My dad also worked the space shuttle explosion and the air Florida crash in Washington DC . He turned 79 this year . I am extremely proud of all his accomplishments.

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• K-

  @K-Man1900 · 2 years ago

  I remember an entire class on BLACKTHORN at Coast Guard boot camp. One of the lessons the instructor drilled into our heads was knowing your ship and her egress routes. My first assignment, an old 180 no less, I was taken to one of the lowest compartments on the ship, blindfolded, told to spin a around a few times, and then make my way to the weather deck. It was a struggle to say the least.

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• LA

  @LairdRuari · 2 years ago

  I&apos;ll never forget the tragedy of the Blackthorne. I was a Seaman apprentice aboard the USCGC Walnut WLM 252 out of Terminal Island, CA. Our skipper mustered us on the Buoy deck to give us the tragic news and to announce upcoming drills planned to prepare us for the possibility of a similar incident with us. Just a week later I was on midwatch on a stormy night in LA Harbor. There was a fuel barge tended by a tug inbound. The barge was full and running a deep draft. It was early morning and the entire crew of the Walnut was onboard asleep with just myself and the engineer of the watch up to keep an eye on things. The barge&apos;s tug lost power in the storm and the wind was driving them towards us adrift without power of steering. I looked out of the galley porthole and it was black when I should&apos;ve seen the lights of the port. I ran out onto the buoy deck to see the bow of the fuel barge headed straight for the port side of the Walnut on a collision course with us amidships. I sounded general quarters and was able to evacuate the crew. In the meantime the tug had restarted their engine and was backing down at full power. They were able to reverse course intime to avoid colliding with us. The Blackthorne was in the forefront of my mind while this went down.

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• SE

  @sebastianalvaradocolon5983 · 2 years ago

  You know its bad when the coast guard needs the coast guard.

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• BA

  @BallisticDamages · 2 years ago (edited)

  The quick thinking to tie open the life jacket locker shows incredible forethought from that sailor.

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• RI

  @riptide8103 · 2 years ago

  Watching this from the USCGC Harry Claiborne, Blackthorn&apos;s successor. We have one of her liferings hung above our mess deck and a memorial exists at Base Galveston. I like to think todays 175s are safer and our training and culture more advanced, but we will never forget our forefathers.

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• DA

  @daedalus_20v · 2 years ago

  Try to imagine the kind of person who would, at just 18 years of age, venture into a sinking ship (in the dark) in an effort to save others. I&apos;ve lived over twice as long as SA Flores and I&apos;ve never done anything half as brave.

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• MA

  @mashuto · 2 years ago

  I&apos;m a trainee navigation officer in the merchant marine and I have to say, these videos are out of the ordinary. They&apos;ve taught me to be extremely vigilant out at sea and not discount the smallest of things no matter what. Thanks !

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• MO

  @MontanaMedic13 · 2 years ago (edited)

  The fact that these videos are over an hour long is always a relief to me. &nbsp; I hate when a super complex disaster is squeezed into a 10 or 20 minute video. &nbsp; &nbsp;Brick Immortar always comprehensively sets the stage and fully explains these situations. &nbsp; So glad see this uploaded.

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• AZ

  @aztec0112 · 2 years ago

  You have a way, sir - a certain gravitas, dignity, thoughtfulness and respect when presenting these tragedies. Every time I walk away wiser and immeasurably saddened. &nbsp;Thank you for the hard work that goes into producing them.<br><br>Rest in Peace Billy Flores.

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• L3

  @l3ubba308 · 2 years ago

  Another Coastie here. Having those personal items onboard isn&apos;t completely out of the ordinary for transits like this. When I was on a WHEC out of Kodiak we sailed down to Seattle to conduct some maintenance and training. Kodiak is pretty small and somewhat remote, so getting stuff shipped to you can take awhile and be pretty expensive. The CO allowed people to take advantage of our time in Seattle to buy items that are cheaper in the lower 48 and store them in our hangar since we didn&apos;t have a helo with us for the trip. Couple of folks bought appliances, someone purchased some lumber, another person purchased a new ATV.

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