Our profound condolences to Brother Jacobs’ family, friends, and brothers and sisters on the docks. An Injury to One is an Injury to All.
A longshoreman died and three other people were injured when a vessel line snapped at the Port of Longview early Thursday morning, according to the port and other authorities.
Byron Jacobs, 34, of Longview, was a third-generation longshoreman who worked at the the Port of Longview for 16 years.
“This is a tragic day on the waterfront,” said ILWU Local 21 President Jake Ford. “Byron was an active member of the union, loved his work and will be incredibly missed.”
The chief mate aboard the vessel was also struck, and he is in critical condition at Southwest Washington Medical Center. Another longshoreman and security guard also received non-life-threatening injuries, according to the port.
ILWU International President Robert McEllrath said in a statement Thursday that longshoremen across the West Coast are mourning Jacobs’ death.
“I remember him as a good man who worked hard for his family and his union,” McEllrath told The Daily News. “We will continue fighting every day to make our jobs safer, because the most terrible news is when a parent doesn’t come home from work.”
The Coast Guard and Washington State Department of Labor and Industries are at the scene conducting investigations, port officials said Thursday.