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Tag: Alaska

Destination

Destination

Destination
Photo: saltydogboatingnews.com

On February 11, the 98 foot long fishing vessel Destination was reported missing and presumed lost in the Bering Sea northwest of St. George Island, Alaska. The Coast Guard received an automated EPIRB signal (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) from the fishing vessel around 7:15 a.m. Saturday morning.

The Coast Guard dispatched helicopters and directed two nearby vessels to search for the Destination. Citizens on St. George Island began searching the shoreline for possible survivors or any signs of the fishing vessel.

By 10 a.m. the beacon was found in a debris field that included a buoy and life ring that had the fishing vessel’s name on it. An oil sheen was visible in the water indicating the vessel may have foundered in the vicinity.

Destination
Photo: komonews.com

Conditions were reported to be typical in the area with snow showers, waves reaching 2 to 3 meters and winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour.

The Coast Guard confirmed there were six crew on board the Destination when the vessel departed from Seattle.

A Coast Guard cutter from Dutch Harbor was dispatched and expected to be on site to aid in the search and rescue efforts.

 

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.