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Sea Ranger

Sea Ranger

Sea Ranger
Photo: USCG

On the morning of August 1, the 110 foot long tug vessel Sea Ranger sank in the Gulf of Alaska some 130 miles south of Cordova, Alaska. The Sea Ranger contacted the United States Coast Guard that the vessel was taking on water and requested assistance.  The Coast Guard responded by sending an HC-130 Super Hercules aircraft from Kodiak with a dewatering pump. The helicopter arrived and able to deliver0 the pump to the crew and returned to back to shore.

Two hours later the Sea Ranger contacted the Coast Guard stating the vessel was in trouble. The tug vessel had suffered a fire in the engine room and the main engine was now inoperative. With no power for the dewatering pumps, the crew of four were unable to stop the water ingress. The Coast Guard deployed a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter along with an HC-130 Super Hercules airplane to assist. The helicopter arrived a few hours later on scene and hoisted all 4 crew members off the Sea Ranger.  The crew were flown to Cordova and found to be in good condition. The tug vessel was last reported to be in sinking condition and was assumed lost.

Tanusha

Tanusha

Tanusha
Photo: craftsmenunitedinc.com

On the morning of January 15, the 58 foot long fishing vessel Tanusha capsized and sank in the Gulf of Alaska 23 miles southeast of Kodiak, Alaska. Authorities received an alert from the Tanusha’s EPIRB and dispatched a Jayhawk helicopter to the scene. The nearby 31 meter long fishing vessel Victory (IMO: 9702376) also responded to the distress call and found the 2 crew of the Tanusha in a life raft. One crew member had suffered an injury and was suffering from hypothermia. The 2 crew would later be airlifted by a Jayhawk helicopter and taken to Kodiak for medical treatment.

Reports state the crew decided to abandon ship when the fishing vessel began to take on water. The cause of the water ingress was not disclosed. Authorities have not stated if the incident will be investigated.

A report states the vessel may have been fishing at the time of the incident as tanner crab season had started in the area.

Ryou Un Maru

Ryou Un Maru

The 164 foot long fishing vessel Ryou-Un Maru was sunk in the Gulf of Alaska by the Coast Guard.  The fishing vessel went adrift from Hokkaido during the 2011 tsunami in Japan and floated across the Pacific Ocean.   The Coast Guard determined to sink the vessel rather than to attempt to tow it to port.   The Coast Guard fired shots into the vessel.   The Ryou  burst into flames then listed over and sank.  An unknown amount of diesel fuel was released when the fishing boat sank.

Interesting Note

Just before the Coast Guard could fire the first shot, a Canadian fishing vessel claimed salvage rights to the Ryou-Un Maru.  The 62 foot long fishing vessel Bernice C. attempted to tow the vessel, but failed and left the area.  The Ryou-Un Maru was to be scrapped before the tsunami struck.

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