2 Tugboat Crew Members Killed in Confined Space Incident on Barge

Coast Guard says methane gas may have been present in the confined space where the incident occurred.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 8:18am

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Two crew members of a tugboat were killed and two others were injured in what the Coast Guard described as a 'confined space incident' aboard a barge moored in southeast Alaska last weekend. The parents of one of the victims said they were told by Coast Guard officials that there was methane gas present in the confined space.

Why it matters

Confined space incidents on vessels can pose serious risks to crew members, and this tragedy highlights the importance of proper safety protocols and hazard identification when working in such environments. The presence of methane gas further complicates the situation and raises questions about the source of the gas and why it was present.

The details

The incident occurred on the freight barge Waynehoe, which was moored about 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan. The crew members from the tugboat Chukchi Sea were performing normal deck duties to secure the barge ahead of an impending storm when they lost contact with the four crew members who were in the confined space. The Coast Guard was called for help, and one of the deceased crew members was recovered from the space, while the two survivors were assisted out.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • The crew members last spoke to their families on Saturday night, March 15, 2026.

The players

Sidney Mohorovich

A 28-year-old crew member who was one month into his new job with Hamilton Marine Construction. He lived in Deming, Washington, with his fiancee and was described as an exceptional human being who was loved by many.

Ben Fowler

The other crew member who was killed in the incident.

Chukchi Sea

The tugboat that the crew members were from.

Waynehoe

The freight barge that was moored in southeast Alaska where the incident occurred.

Coast Guard

The agency that responded to the incident and provided details about the confined space incident.

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What they’re saying

“We don't know why the series of events that led to all the people being in the confined space, if they all like went down as a team or in separate stages. I have no information on that, but what I can tell you is that the confined space had high levels of methane gas in it.”

— Todd Mohorovich, Father of victim Sidney Mohorovich

“He was loved by so many. Just an exceptional human being, smarty, witty, funny, loving.”

— Eva Mohorovich, Mother of victim Sidney Mohorovich

What’s next

The Coast Guard and other authorities will continue investigating the cause of the confined space incident and the presence of methane gas to determine what led to the tragedy.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the critical importance of proper safety protocols and hazard identification when working in confined spaces on vessels, as even routine tasks can quickly turn deadly if dangerous conditions are present. It also highlights the devastating human toll when such incidents occur.