Date: June 27, 2013
District 17 Public Affairs Detachment Kodiak
KODIAK, Alaska — The Coast Guard rescued four fishermen and their dog from the Ocean Viking 190
miles southwest of Kodiak Wednesday.
A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew rescued the crew from a life raft around 10:30 p.m. and is transporting them to Kodiak. They are expected to arrive at midnight. All four fishermen and their dog are reported in good condition.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 17th District command center received the crew’s distress call around 8:30 p.m., relayed through a Trident Seafoods employee in Chignik who heard their call over VHF-FM Channel 16, reporting that the 76-foot fishing vessel was taking on water and the crew was abandoning ship into a life raft.
The fishermen donned immersion suits and activated their emergency position indicating radio beacon prior to abandoning ship. Coast Guard personnel at Sector Anchorage and Communication Station Kodiak issued an urgent marine information broadcast requesting the assistance of mariners in the area. Command center watchstanders directed the launch of the Jayhawk helicopter crew.
“This crew did everything right from calling for help and activating their EPIRB to donning immersion suits and abandoning ship into their life raft before it was too late,” said Adam De Rocher, a search and rescue controller with the 17th District command center. “We encourage all fishermen to be prepared for at-sea emergencies and get their free commercial fishing vessel safety exams from the Coast Guard before setting out.”
Weather conditions on scene at the time of the sinking were reportedly six-foot seas and 24 mph winds. When last seen the vessel was partially submerged and presents a hazard to navigation. Sector Anchorage is broadcasting a notice to mariners advising traffic in the region to keep a sharp lookout to prevent possible collisions.
The Coast Guard will investigate the cause of the sinking. The owner of the vessel will work with Sector Anchorage personnel to determine if any further action is needed regarding the vessel. The Ocean Viking is homeported in Shoreline, Wash.
District 17 Public Affairs Detachment Kodiak
KODIAK, Alaska — The Coast Guard rescued four fishermen and their dog from the Ocean Viking 190
A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew rescued the crew from a life raft around 10:30 p.m. and is transporting them to Kodiak. They are expected to arrive at midnight. All four fishermen and their dog are reported in good condition.
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| John Nes, the captain of the Ocean Viking, takes a moment for photo with his dog Buddy, after his rescue from a life raft 190 miles southwest of Kodiak, Alaska, June 26, 2013(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg) |
The fishermen donned immersion suits and activated their emergency position indicating radio beacon prior to abandoning ship. Coast Guard personnel at Sector Anchorage and Communication Station Kodiak issued an urgent marine information broadcast requesting the assistance of mariners in the area. Command center watchstanders directed the launch of the Jayhawk helicopter crew.
“This crew did everything right from calling for help and activating their EPIRB to donning immersion suits and abandoning ship into their life raft before it was too late,” said Adam De Rocher, a search and rescue controller with the 17th District command center. “We encourage all fishermen to be prepared for at-sea emergencies and get their free commercial fishing vessel safety exams from the Coast Guard before setting out.”
Weather conditions on scene at the time of the sinking were reportedly six-foot seas and 24 mph winds. When last seen the vessel was partially submerged and presents a hazard to navigation. Sector Anchorage is broadcasting a notice to mariners advising traffic in the region to keep a sharp lookout to prevent possible collisions.
The Coast Guard will investigate the cause of the sinking. The owner of the vessel will work with Sector Anchorage personnel to determine if any further action is needed regarding the vessel. The Ocean Viking is homeported in Shoreline, Wash.