Seafarer’s death in Columbia River reveals murky maritime oversight

Seafarer’s death in Columbia River reveals murky maritime oversight

A group of mourners who never knew Filipino seafarer AJ Kent N. Meraña recently gathered in a hushed vigil over flickering candles to commemorate the 30th birthday he never got to celebrate. A coalition of Filipino and maritime advocacy groups held the public remembrance March 27 on the University of Portland campus, more than six months after a fisherman found Meraña’s body floating in a Columbia River shipping channel. As they grieved together…