Ship in distress at Unalaska

The U.S. Coast Guard is keeping a close eye on a struggling cargo ship near Unalaska.

"Although intense weather conditions put the vessel in danger of running aground, the vessel is anchored and stable," the Coast Guard said.

A Coast Guard helicopter removed four of the ship's crewmembers and took them to Dutch Harbor.

For updates, check the USCG Alaska X feed.

'Frustrated fishermen'

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, in a Friday update on the salmon fisheries, reported this from the Taku-Snettisham area near Juneau:

The story we heard on the grounds was of periods of terrible weather hampering effort and large numbers of seals working the nets of frustrated fishermen.

Severe weather coming; trawler needs assist

Deckboss is sure you've seen some of the many media reports of rough weather sweeping into the Bering Sea and Western Alaska.

The U.S. Coast Guard this afternoon issued this press release talking about its preparations, plus efforts to asset a disabled trawler.

The release says in part:

The Coast Guard and commercial services are currently responding to a request for assistance from the 143-foot fishing trawler Rebecca Irene 138 miles northwest of Unimak Pass in the Bering Sea.

Communications Station Kodiak received a call from the master of the fishing vessel at 3:45 a.m. reporting that one of their engines had become inoperable and they were under way with limited propulsion. They are headed toward Unimak Island at about 6 mph with 34 people aboard. The weather is forecast to degrade to 55 mph winds with seas of 35-feet by late afternoon.

The cutter Sherman is currently on scene and is planning to take all nonessential Rebecca Irene crewmembers aboard. The transfer will be conducted using the Sherman's small boat.

The parent company of the Rebecca Irene has contracted with Magone Marine of Dutch Harbor for the tug Double Eagle to respond and tow the fishing vessel.

New Gulf of Alaska weather station erected

The newly installed weather tower. And yep, that's two bears checking it out. David Weagley photo

A new weather station at Cape St. Elias on Kayak Island southeast of Cordova is now available for aiding boats and planes.

The tower measures wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure and solar radiation. The station reports hourly via a satellite link, and you can see the data here.

Two nonprofits and the U.S. Coast Guard worked to erect the tower.

Here's the interesting story that led to the new station.