Empty boat found running, aground near Sitka

This came in from the U.S. Coast Guard late last night. State records show the boat was rigged for longlining and salmon trolling.

U.S. Coast Guard, 17th District

Oct. 23, 2009

Coast Guard searches for Sitka man near Fish Bay

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard is searching for a Sitka man after it was reported by the crew of the fishing vessel Brant that the 32-foot fishing vessel Miss Dee Dee was discovered grounded with the engines still running about 20 miles north of Sitka in Fish Bay around 7 p.m. Friday.

Michael Diverty, age unknown, was last seen leaving Sitka around noon today by the crew of the Brant and is believed to have have fallen off the Miss Dee Dee sometime today north of Sitka. The crew of the Brant searched the vessel and a nearby cabin ashore finding no signs of Diverty.

The Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center immediately launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka and launched the Coast Guard cutter Naushon from Ketchikan to search the surrounding waters of Fish Bay. The fishing vessel Brant also remains in the area assisting with the search. The cutter Naushon is expected to arrive in the area tomorrow morning.

The crew of the Brant reported during their initial search that the life raft was still onboard the Miss Dee Dee and that there were no signs of missing life saving equipment.

The weather in the vicinity of the search is reported as winds of 30 mph with five miles visibility and water temperatures at 45 degrees.