2 Tugboat Crew Members Killed in 'Confined Space Incident' on Barge

Coast Guard investigating deadly incident in southeast Alaska

Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:18pm

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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 incident occurred on the freight barge Waynehoe, about 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan. 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 highlight the need for proper safety protocols and training. This tragedy raises questions about the specific circumstances that led to the incident and what can be done to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The details

The tugboat crew called the Coast Guard for help and managed to recover one of the dead crew members from the space and helped the two survivors out before the rescue team arrived. The barge was then towed to Ketchikan, where the confined space 'was able to be safely cleared for the recovery of the second deceased crew member.' The causes of death were not released, and the bodies were sent to Anchorage for autopsies.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • The tugboat crew last spoke to one of the victims, Sidney Mohorovich, 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 previously a logger, welder, and construction worker.

Ben Fowler

The other crew member who was killed in the incident.

Coast Guard

The federal agency that responded to the incident and is investigating the cause.

Todd and Eva Mohorovich

The parents of Sidney Mohorovich, who said they were told by Coast Guard officials that there was methane gas present in the confined space.

Hamilton Marine Construction

The company that employed Sidney Mohorovich, which did not return a message seeking comment.

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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 is continuing its investigation into the cause of the 'confined space incident' and the presence of methane gas. The results of the autopsies on the two deceased crew members are also pending.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the critical importance of proper safety protocols and training for crew members working in confined spaces on vessels. It also underscores the need for thorough investigations to determine the root causes of such accidents and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future, in order to protect the lives of maritime workers.