The 33 meter long fishing / processing vessel Rebecca Irene became disabled off Unimak Island, Alaska in the Bering Sea. The Rebecca Irene was heading back on one engine when it lost power while in severe weather with 20 foot swells and 40 mph winds. The vessel contacted the Coast Guard who dispatched the cutter Sherman to the scene. When the Sherman arrived on scene, it took the Rebecca Irene under tow. The tug Double Eagle was contacted and take the Rebecca Irene under tow as soon as it arrives on scene. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution being released.
The 150 foot long fishing-processing vessel Alaskan Leader suffered an engine room fire near the Unimak Pass in the Bering Sea. The Alaskan Leader was heading back to harbor after a six-week fishing trip with 9,000 pounds of frozen cod when a fire broke out in the electrical system. The fire spread through the vessel and the vessel soon lost lights and power. The master quickly alerted the Coast Guard of the situation while the 23 crew on board attempted to extinguish the fire. For several hours the crew fought the blaze until the master of the vessel order the men to prepare to abandon ship. Three other fishing vessels who heard the distress call from the Alaskan Leader reached the scene. They were able to provide enough light to allow the Alaskan Leader crew to finally extinguish the blaze. The Coast Guard cutter arrived on the scene and the Alaskan Leader was able to get its engine restarted. A tug arrived later to tow the Alaskan Leader back to Dutch Harbor. No reports of injuries. The Coast Guard will investigate the incident.
More Photos of Aries rescue at http://jgp1.com/tugaries
More Photos of Aries rescue at http://jgp1.com/tugaries
The 68-foot tug Aries sank in the Bering Sea east of St. Paul Island. The tug was towing a barge when the crew discovered the vessel was taking on water. The weather was rough with 11 foot waves and 30 mile per hour winds. The tug’s crew contacted the Coast Guard that they were in need of assistance. The Coast Guard dispatched a HC-130 Hercules airplane which reached the scene to see only the barge afloat. The crew of the Aries had transferred over to the barge before the tug sank. A Coast Guard helicopter arrived a few hours later and hoisted the 4 crewmen off the barge. They were safely taken to St. Paul Island. The Aries sank with 29,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board. Reports state there is a visable oil slick. Authorities have deployed vessels to handle environmental issues and to see if the tug could be salvaged. The reason for the Aries sinking has not yet been determined.
The Aries is a Gulf Coast style tug built in 1980 in Gibson, Louisiana. The vessel was recently refurbished in Seattle before being leased to C & K Marine from Olympic Tug & Barge, Inc. of Seattle.
More information on the Aries and Rescue at the Bitterend Blog
