Missing Fishing Vessel Presumed Sunken

By Mark Edward Nero

On July 30, the US Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and Fishing Company of Alaska called off the search for a missing fishing vessel, which presumably sank in about 5,400 feet of water in the Bering Sea, after the rescue of dozens of crewmembers.

“We have searched and have not been able to locate the fishing vessel Alaska Juris,” federal on-scene coordinator representative Lt. Todd Bagetis said.

The Coast Guard and other entities had formed a Unified Command last week to respond to the Alaska Juris, which began to take on water around 11:30 am on July 26.

Good Samaritan crews from four vessels assisted in the rescue of 46 mariners who abandoned ship after the vessel began taking on water. The mariners were transported to Adak, Alaska.

The Unified Command had activated a fishing vessel, salvage tug, and a Coast Guard aircraft crew to search the area northwest of Adak, Alaska, where the Alaska Juris was last seen.

Searches by sea were conducted on July 28-30, and air searches were conducted on July 29 and 30, with the vessel not being found. A search was also conducted along the track of the vessel’s projected drift.

Unrecoverable diesel sheen was located in the search area with the source of the sheen unknown but believed to be from the Alaska Juris.

Through an abundance of caution, the Fishing Company of Alaska formally activated a state and federally-approved oil spill response organization per a non-tank vessel response plan.

“We have received reports of intermittent unrecoverable sheen, potentially resulting from the sinking of this vessel,” state on-scene coordinator Ron Doyle said. “We do not anticipate any shoreline impacts. We will continue to monitor the situation and look into any future reports we receive.” The cause of the fishing vessel’s sinking is under investigation.

46 Mariners Rescued Off Alaska Coast

By Mark Edward Nero

Forty-six crewmembers aboard fishing vessel Alaska Juris, who abandoned a sinking ship near Kiska Island, about 690 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, were rescued July 26 by air crews with Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, along with good Samaritans.

All 46 crewmembers were transferred to good Samaritan vessels Spar Canis and Vienna Express and transported to the Alaska city of Adak.

There were no reports of injuries.

The Coast Guard became aware of the sinking vessel when 17th District watch standers received an electronic position indicating radio beacon alert from Alaska Juris around 11:30 a.m. local time, and contacted the crew directly to confirm they were in distress, donning survival suits and abandoning ship.

Coast Guard Cutter Midgett and an Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane were diverted to the vessel’s location, and an urgent marine information broadcast was sent to vessels in the area. Motor vessels Spar Canis, Vienna Express, Seafisher and Ocean Peace diverted to assist.

“The crew of the Alaska Juris did the right thing by calling for help, putting on their immersion suits and safely abandoning the ship,” District 17 Command Duty Officer Lt. Greg Isbell said. “And the good Samaritans’ willingness to respond … was paramount to getting the Alaska Juris crew to safety.”

The cause of the vessel taking on water is under investigation. Weather on scene was reported as calm seas and limited visibility.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is the agency investigating the case. A one-minute, 15-second video of the response to the incident can be seen at https://www.dvidshub.net/video/476483/coast-guard-good-samaritans-rescue-46-mariners-690-miles-west-dutch-harbor-alaska.