Good Samaritans, Coast Guard save seiner Luna

Friends rally around the sinking seiner. U.S. Coast Guard photo

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U.S. Coast Guard, 17th District

July 7, 2009

Coast Guard assists fishing vessel taking on water in Shelikof Strait

KODIAK, Alaska — The Coast Guard assisted a 50-foot fishing vessel from Kodiak on the northwest side of Kodiak Island in Spiridon Bay after it began sinking Monday.

The Coast Guard Command Center in Anchorage received a call from the fishing vessel Lady Ashely at noon reporting the Luna was in need of assistance after it struck a rock.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak launched at approximately 12:20 p.m. The Jayhawk lowered a dewatering pump to the Luna and the Hercules dropped two additional pumps.

Several good Samaritan vessels in the area assisted the Luna with dewatering. The flooding was controlled and the good Samaritan vessels remained in the area to assist.

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment in Kodiak reports there are no environmental issues at this time. The Luna’s crew is making repairs to the vessel in preparation to return to Kodiak.

The Luna was fishing for salmon at the time of the accident.