Polar Star update

Just talked with the U.S. Coast Guard about the seiner Polar Star, which went aground Tuesday west of Kodiak.

Sounds like the boat will be saved.

She was refloated, taken to a safe place called Geographic Harbor along the Alaska Peninsula, and then deliberately beached so the crew could better patch a hole in the hull.

The plan, I'm told, is to tow the boat out tomorrow.

Let's pull for the Polar Star

The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched a rescue helicopter and C-130 airplane this morning after the captain of the Polar Star radioed a mayday, saying the 58-foot seiner was taking on water and the crew of five was about to abandon ship. Rescuers arrived on the scene along the southern side of the Alaska Peninsula, some 65 miles west of Kodiak, to find the Polar Star crew in a skiff near the grounded vessel. The aircraft left the scene after the crew indicated they'll wait until high tide at 9:17 p.m. to try to refloat the seiner. The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan fishing boat are maintaining communications with the Polar Star crew. USCG photo