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Tag: Alaska

Pacific Star

Pacific Star

Pacific Star

On February 2, the 52 foot long fishing vessel Pacific Star suffered water ingress near Lituya Bay, Alaska. The fishing vessel reported to the Coast Guard the Pacific Star had sustained water ingress through a hatch in the stern of the vessel.  The pumps on board the fishing vessel were unable to control the flooding and there was the risk the vessel would sink.

The Coast Guard dispatched helicopters from the Sitka and Kodiak stations. An hour later the Jayhawk helicopter from Sitka arrived on scene. The helicopter lowered a dewatering pump to the Pacific Star. The crew of the Pacific Star were able to get the pump running and brought the flooding under control.

The Pacific Star proceeded under its own power to Graves Harbor while being escorted by the helicopter from Kodiak. There the crew were able to make repairs and dewater the Pacific Star.  The following day, the Pacific Star proceed back to Sitka escorted by another fishing vessel Sherrie Marie.  No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.

Lady Gudny

Lady Gudny

Lady Gudny
Photo: USCG

The 219 gt fishing vessel Lady Gudny became disabled in heavy seas 230 miles southeast of Kodiak, Alaska. The Lady Gudny went adrift after it’s engine had failed. The crew could not restart the engine after they had exhausted all the fuel filters on board. The crew sent out a distress call  requesting additional filters. A Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched and attempted to deliver additional filters, but conditions made it impossible to deliver them.  With waves reaching 22 feet and wind gusts up to 50 mph, the Coast Guard decided to dispatch a cutter to take the Lady Gudny under tow.

The 225 foot long cutter SPAR arrived on scene the next day. The SPAR was able to pass a towline over to the Lady Gudny and began towing the fishing vessel back to port. However, the towline parted and became entangled with the SPAR’s propeller.

Lady Gudny
Photo: shipspotting.com

With both the Lady Gudny and cutter SPAR disabled, the Coast Guard dispatched the cutters Hickory, Alex Haley and Douglas Munro to assist the disabled vessels. A Jayhawk helicopter was dispatched and was able to hoist all four crew off the Lady Gudny. No reports of injures.

The Lady Gudny (IMO 7948407) was built in 1979 at Mobile, Alabama.

Exito

Exito

Exito
Photo: mxak.org

The 117 foot long fishing vessel Exito sank at the entrance of Unalaska Bay near Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The Exito had suffered water ingress while 14 miles northeast of Dutch Harbor in 8 foot seas and winds up to 35 miles per hour. The crew requested assistance with 4 nearby fishing vessels responding. The Coast Guard dispatched the Cutter Alex Haley along with a rescue helicopter from Kodiak to the scene.

Exito
Photo: fws.gov

The fishing vessel Afognak Strait was first to arrived on scene and rescued 3 of the 5 crew of the Exito. The three crew had abandoned ship together. The remaining two crew were last seen preparing to abandon ship, but are reported as missing. Reports state one of the missing crew had donned a survival suit, but it was unclear if they had escaped into a life raft. 

Priest Rock
Photo: nooa.gov

A Coast Guard helicopter along with 3 fishing vessels (Commitment, Blue North and Northern Lead) continue to search the area for the two missing crew. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident. The Exito had been transporting cargo between Dutch Harbor and Akutan on Akutan Island.