Forty-six crewmembers forced to abandon a sinking fishing vessel near Kiska Island, some 690 miles west of Dutch Harbor, were safely rescued on July 26 through the combined efforts of the US Coast Guard and private vessels.
Coast Guard officials said all 46 crewmembers from the Alaska Juris were transferred to the Good Samaritan vessels Spar Canis and Vienna Express and transported to Adak. All of them had donned immersion suits after their vessel took on water and started sinking. No injuries were reported. Weather in the area was reported as calm seas and limited visibility.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is monitoring the situation.
No details on the condition of the Alaska Juris were immediately available.
The rescue effort began after Coast Guard watchstanders from the 17th District received an electronic position indicating radio beacon alert from the Alaska Juris, and contacted the crew to confirm they were in distress, donning survival suits and abandoning ship.
The Coast Guard Cutter Midgett and an Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircraft were diverted to the vessel’s location, and two Air Station Kodiak MH_60 Jayhawk helicopters were launched to Adak as a staging and refueling area. Motor vessels Spar Canis, Vienna Express, Seafisher and Ocean Peace diverted to assist after hearing the Coast Guard broadcast an urgent marine advisory.
The willingness of Good Samaritans to respond was paramount to getting the crew to safety, said Lt. Greg Isbell, District 17 command duty officer.
Coast Guard officials said all 46 crewmembers from the Alaska Juris were transferred to the Good Samaritan vessels Spar Canis and Vienna Express and transported to Adak. All of them had donned immersion suits after their vessel took on water and started sinking. No injuries were reported. Weather in the area was reported as calm seas and limited visibility.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is monitoring the situation.
No details on the condition of the Alaska Juris were immediately available.
The rescue effort began after Coast Guard watchstanders from the 17th District received an electronic position indicating radio beacon alert from the Alaska Juris, and contacted the crew to confirm they were in distress, donning survival suits and abandoning ship.
The Coast Guard Cutter Midgett and an Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircraft were diverted to the vessel’s location, and two Air Station Kodiak MH_60 Jayhawk helicopters were launched to Adak as a staging and refueling area. Motor vessels Spar Canis, Vienna Express, Seafisher and Ocean Peace diverted to assist after hearing the Coast Guard broadcast an urgent marine advisory.
The willingness of Good Samaritans to respond was paramount to getting the crew to safety, said Lt. Greg Isbell, District 17 command duty officer.