JUNEAU — U.S. Coast Guard crews and a good Samaritan vessel from Sitka rushed to aid the Sitka-based crew of a 70-foot fishing vessel taking on water approximately five miles west of Fairweather Ground Wednesday.
An Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew brought dewatering pumps to four people aboard the fishing vessel Masonic.
The Coast Guard Cutter Liberty was en route Wednesday hoping to meet the vessel by Thursday morning in Cross Sound to help it make it to port in Hoonah.
The weather on scene at the time of the incident was reportedly 11-foot seas and 25 mph gusting 35 mph. The reported windchill was 26 degrees, according to the Coast Guard.
The Masonic’s crew alerted the Coast Guard Wednesday that the vessel was taking on water and may require an extra pump to keep up with flooding. An Air Station Sitka helicopter crew and the Liberty responded.
The good Samaritan vessel Myra arrived and helped the Masonic’s crew until the vessel was able to control the flooding and pump out water.
The helicopter crew brought two more dewatering pumps and a rescue swimmer to assist in dewatering efforts.
The helicopter remained on scene until the flooding was under control before retrieving the rescue swimmer and returning to Sitka. The Myra continued on its voyage while the Masonic headed for protected waters in Cross Sound to find the flooding source.
“In these dangerous waters, preparedness and early actions from the crew and nearby good Samaritan vessels play a key role in ensuring the safety of the Alaskan boating community,” said Lt. Ryan Erickson of Sector Juneau. “Due to the vast areas our Coast Guard crews are required to cover, it is vital that all mariners ensure their vessels are inspected and properly outfitted before setting sail.”
Comments (13)
Add commentWinter Kings?
I wonder what they're fishing for. With the risk being taken this time of year I'm sure it isn't anything I could afford.
Agreed
I was thinking the same thing. I'd have to be making bank to put myself out there.
Given the price of halibut these days... Black cod maybe?
IFQs
Wasn't the derby fishing suppose to end with IFQs?
Geesus, get a clue
Lets all accuse them first - the hell with the fact that they are alive huh guys?
Masonic
is a old schooner like the LeConte that sank out there about 12 years ago. On the "east bank" they most likely were fishing Pcod. You can never tell there are several licenses attached to that death trap so hopefully the USCG and the brown shirts are looking over it closely. Black cod and Halibut are closed.
I thought they may have been
I thought they may have been out for rockfish - a LEGAL and open fishery.
Anyway thank you again, USCG (and Myra).
Don't misunderstand
I'm glad everyone is safe; however there are some federal criminal laws regarding the safety of vessels. Several years ago a number of crewmen were lost on one of those "Artic Alaska" trawlers--the owner sitting fat and pretty behind a desk in Seattle shouldn't have got off. Failure to reasonably maintain.I hope this vessel gets a thorough USCG inspection and we don't have to read about how many fishers died before something's resolved!
You just don't stop do you.
"Criminal" laws regarding safety? They were out fishing. Do you really think they wanted to beat the system somehow?
Any fisherman knows you don't go out there this time of year without proper survival gear and I don't doubt for a minute that these guys were no less cautious and LEGAL. But things happen Snagger.
Whats more disturbing here is that every time there is mention of commercial fishing activity, you are usually first to start calling out all fisherman as somehow wrong - or in this case, criminal.
me plus
I wasn't criticizing them or suggesting anything inappropriate. I'm glad they're OK. But it would have to be worth it for me to go out in the Gulf this time of year - big water like that scares me in the best of seasons.
Stop to save lives...
me +- I've been a commercial fisher and a federal law enforcer. I've been close to more than one tragic event that lead to the death of several crewmembers; usually well meaning kids that didn't know what they were in for. Skipper's favorite " What kind of wuss are you?" I did mean criminal; it's in the U.S. Code.Deal with the jerk who takes out an unfit vessel and unknowing crew to make a few bucks!!
snagger
what the hell is a federal law enforcer?
I am betting that not only do you not know what that is, but also you have NEVER held a badge that identified you as such.
I would guess that you were nothing more than just a coastie trying to avoid the draft if you are old enough to remember what that is.
One thing is for sure: You are clearly against fisherman who are legally trying to make a living and doing it under lawful circumstance. You, sir, are a loser every time I read your [filtered word].
Get real.
Latitude
Quote:
"Agreed
I was thinking the same thing"
Who you trying to fool?
Chill out
And go back and read the first two comments.
Risky work demands high reward. What don't you understand about that?
Read first two comments....no change.
I still believe both you and Snagger would rather gripe about the fishing activity over the fact that these people are survivors.
If this were the first time then I could get past this...
But you and Snagger come out swinging and you don't even know what fishery they are participating in and assume the worst as if they are criminals.
Over an over and over....it's past old Lat.