The Coast Guard rescued five people Thursday from a fishing vessel that ran aground and began taking on water near Southwest Alaska. No injuries were reported.
The fishing vessel Ocean Bay remains aground on the northern shoreline of Umnak Island.
According to the Coast Guard Arctic District, watchstanders at the command center in Juneau received a call at approximately 4:45 a.m. from the vessel’s crew reporting they were aground and flooding.
In response, officials launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) was also diverted to assist, and an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued to alert nearby mariners.
Around 5 a.m., the good Samaritan vessel Seafreeze Alaska arrived on scene and helped relay communications between the Ocean Bay and the command center.
By approximately 8 a.m., the Hercules aircrew and the Waesche crew arrived, relieving Seafreeze Alaska and maintaining communication with the stranded vessel. During that time, the Ocean Bay crew was able to dewater the vessel and stop the source of flooding.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter arrived at approximately 11:15 a.m. and hoisted all five people from the vessel. They were transported to awaiting emergency medical services in Dutch Harbor.
Resolve Marine has been contracted to oversee salvage operations for the grounded vessel.
“The successful rescue of five individuals from the fishing vessel Ocean Bay is a direct result of the integrated and highly professional efforts of our personnel,” said Chief Petty Officer Alex Washington, a command duty officer at the Arctic District Command Center. “This operation emphasizes the effectiveness of our coordinated search and rescue capabilities and our unwavering commitment to preserving life at sea.”
