Here's good news from the U.S. Coast Guard:
ANCHORAGE — Coast Guard rescue crews responding to an emergency position-indicating radio beacon rescued four fishermen after their Kodiak-based 52-foot longline fishing vessel Nakat was engulfed in flames today five miles off of Sitkinak Island and 80 miles southwest of Kodiak.
Capt. Joe Macinko and Andrew Macinko, both of Kodiak, Wyatt Adams of Anchorage and David Merriman of Shelton, Wash., were hoisted by the aircrew and taken to Kodiak in good condition.
The 17th District Command Center received the automated emergency alert from the Nakat at 8:29 a.m. and immediately launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak.
The Coast Guard aircraft arrived on scene at 10:20 a.m. and found the Nakat on fire. The Hercules crew quickly located a life raft more than two miles away from the burning vessel and and the Jayhawk crew safely hoisted the four crewmen with no injuries reported.
"The use of the EPIRB was instrumental to having been able to rescue the fishermen," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Ernst, Sector Anchorage Command Center watchstander. "It appears the crew had no time to make a mayday call and without the EPIRB we may have never known that they were in trouble and in need of rescuing."
The cause of the fire is not known at this time and under investigation.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Togiak herring fishery kicks it up a notch
State fishery managers have released their summary of this year's Togiak sac roe herring fishery, and the bottom line looks considerably sweeter than last season.The fleet harvested 25,432 tons of herring with an average roe content of 10.7 percent. The price for both seine and gillnet fish was the same as last season, $150 per ton, bringing the total fishery value to $3.8 million.
In 2009, the harvest tallied 17,107 tons worth $2.6 million.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
3 dead, 1 survivor in Coast Guard helicopter crash
Here's the latest news from the U.S. Coast Guard on today's tragedy involving a Sitka-based helicopter crew:
July 7, 2010, 5:30 p.m.
Coast Guard responds to Washington helicopter crash
JUNEAU — The multiple agency response to recover the crewmembers from an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crash that occurred today in the waters near James Island, Wash., has concluded.
Four Coast Guard Air Station Sitka members crashed while flying from Astoria, Ore., to Sitka.
One survivor and three deceased have been recovered.
The survivor is at a Seattle hospital being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
"I grieve with a heavy heart at the news of the death of three members of our Coast Guard family," said Rear Adm. Christopher Colvin, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District. "May friends and our Coast Guardsmen around the country bring strength and comfort to the families and crew of Air Station Sitka during this difficult time. My first priority is to ensure the family and members of Air Station Sitka are provided the support needed to endure this tragedy."
The Coast Guard is not releasing the condition of the survivor or the names of the crewmembers until next of kin notification is complete.
The next step of this response is the salvage and investigation phase. The investigation can include survivor interviews, witness interviews and review of information from the flight data recorder.
The search began at approximately 9:45 a.m. when the Coast Guard Air Station Sitka crew did not perform a routine radio check-in.
July 7, 2010, 5:30 p.m.
Coast Guard responds to Washington helicopter crash
JUNEAU — The multiple agency response to recover the crewmembers from an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crash that occurred today in the waters near James Island, Wash., has concluded.
Four Coast Guard Air Station Sitka members crashed while flying from Astoria, Ore., to Sitka.
One survivor and three deceased have been recovered.
The survivor is at a Seattle hospital being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
"I grieve with a heavy heart at the news of the death of three members of our Coast Guard family," said Rear Adm. Christopher Colvin, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District. "May friends and our Coast Guardsmen around the country bring strength and comfort to the families and crew of Air Station Sitka during this difficult time. My first priority is to ensure the family and members of Air Station Sitka are provided the support needed to endure this tragedy."
The Coast Guard is not releasing the condition of the survivor or the names of the crewmembers until next of kin notification is complete.
The next step of this response is the salvage and investigation phase. The investigation can include survivor interviews, witness interviews and review of information from the flight data recorder.
The search began at approximately 9:45 a.m. when the Coast Guard Air Station Sitka crew did not perform a routine radio check-in.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Troopers wear out ticket books at Bristol Bay
The Alaska State Troopers have issued another 32 illegal fishing citations at Bristol Bay, where the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery is just reaching its season peak.
Among those cited is Charles W. "Chip" Treinen, vice president of United Fishermen of Alaska.
Go to The Brig to see the full list.
Among those cited is Charles W. "Chip" Treinen, vice president of United Fishermen of Alaska.
Go to The Brig to see the full list.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
News from Nome
The summer open access fishery for Norton Sound red king crab starts at noon today with a quota of 370,000 pounds.
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