Two Tugboat Crew Members Dead After Confined Space Incident in Alaska

Coast Guard says two others were injured in the incident aboard a barge moored in southeast Alaska.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:41am

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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, Sidney Mohorovich, 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, highlighting the importance of safety protocols and hazard awareness in the maritime industry. This tragedy raises questions about the specific circumstances that led to the incident and what measures can be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The details

The incident occurred aboard the freight barge Waynehoe, which was moored about 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan. The tugboat crew called the Coast Guard for help, and they were able to recover one of the dead crew members from the space and help the two survivors out before the rescue team arrived. The other man killed was identified as Ben Fowler. 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 Sidney Mohorovich on Saturday night, March 15, 2026.

The players

Sidney Mohorovich

A 28-year-old large equipment mechanic who was on his first job in Alaska. He lived in Deming, Washington, with his fiancée ahead of their planned June wedding.

Ben Fowler

The other crew member who was killed in the incident.

Todd and Eva Mohorovich

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

Hamilton Marine Construction

The company that Sidney Mohorovich was working for, which did not return a message seeking comment.

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 Sidney Mohorovich

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

— Eva Mohorovich, Mother of Sidney Mohorovich

What’s next

The Coast Guard is continuing to investigate the cause of the incident and the presence of methane gas in the confined space. The bodies of the two deceased crew members will undergo autopsies in Anchorage.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the importance of strict safety protocols and hazard awareness in the maritime industry, especially when it comes to working in confined spaces. 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.