A Coast Guard helicopter today airlifted a crewman suffering cardiac complications after receiving an electric shock aboard the 145-foot trawler Cape Horn.
The crewman reportedly took a shock of 480 volts while working on an electrical switchboard, the Coast Guard said.
The Cape Horn was in the Bering Sea, 172 miles northwest of Dillingham.
The helicopter reached the vessel at 1:25 p.m., safely hoisted the crewman and delivered him for care at Dillingham.
The Coast Guard didn't name the 43-year-old victim.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Ocean Beauty shutters damaged Petersburg plant
Seattle-based Ocean Beauty Seafoods won't operate its Petersburg cannery this year due to damage sustained when the state ferry Matanuska crashed into the plant May 7.
Ocean Beauty has arranged to process fish elsewhere, including at its Excursion Inlet plant.
Here's the company press release.
The Petersburg plant usually runs from late June to mid-September and employs 160 to 180 people from all over the United States and Mexico, Ocean Beauty's website says.
Deckboss imagines the weak pink salmon forecast made the shutdown decision a little easier.
Recall that Ocean Beauty idled the Petersburg plant before, in 2010, in expectation of a low pink return.
Ocean Beauty has arranged to process fish elsewhere, including at its Excursion Inlet plant.
Here's the company press release.
The Petersburg plant usually runs from late June to mid-September and employs 160 to 180 people from all over the United States and Mexico, Ocean Beauty's website says.
Deckboss imagines the weak pink salmon forecast made the shutdown decision a little easier.
Recall that Ocean Beauty idled the Petersburg plant before, in 2010, in expectation of a low pink return.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Ill crewman airlifted off boat south of Cordova
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter Tuesday night hoisted an ailing crewman off the 130-foot fishing vessel Retriever more than 200 miles south of Cordova.
The 57-year-old crewman was experiencing symptoms of internal bleeding, but he was conscious and able to walk upon arrival at Cordova, the Coast Guard said.
Here's some video of the medevac operation at sea.
The 57-year-old crewman was experiencing symptoms of internal bleeding, but he was conscious and able to walk upon arrival at Cordova, the Coast Guard said.
Here's some video of the medevac operation at sea.
Russia's Stellers
Goodness knows the Alaska groundfish industry has taken some hits over the endangered Steller sea lion.
Just last year, you'll recall, federal regulators closed big stretches of water in the western and central Aleutians to commercial fishing to preserve prey for Stellers.
Of big interest to the industry, and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, is the status of Steller stocks much farther west, in Russian waters.
Well, we might soon find out.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking a contractor to conduct a boat-based survey of Steller adults and pups at rookeries and haulouts in East Kamchatka, the Commander Islands, the Kuril Islands, the Sea of Okhotsk and the western Bering Sea.
All told, the field work will cover 1,160 nautical miles of coastline and run into the summer of 2015.
"The contractor must have necessary personnel who are fluent in Russian and English and experienced in surveying and collecting this type of data in the Russian Far East and the ability to obtain the appropriate Russian permits," the contract solicitation says.
Just last year, you'll recall, federal regulators closed big stretches of water in the western and central Aleutians to commercial fishing to preserve prey for Stellers.
Of big interest to the industry, and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, is the status of Steller stocks much farther west, in Russian waters.
Well, we might soon find out.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking a contractor to conduct a boat-based survey of Steller adults and pups at rookeries and haulouts in East Kamchatka, the Commander Islands, the Kuril Islands, the Sea of Okhotsk and the western Bering Sea.
All told, the field work will cover 1,160 nautical miles of coastline and run into the summer of 2015.
"The contractor must have necessary personnel who are fluent in Russian and English and experienced in surveying and collecting this type of data in the Russian Far East and the ability to obtain the appropriate Russian permits," the contract solicitation says.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
End of the line for high-seas drifter
Federal officials intend to scrap the Bangun Perkasa, the high-seas driftnet vessel detained at Dutch Harbor since October.
They're seeking a contractor to "dismantle and dispose of the ship."
Marine surveyor Jack McFarland found the vessel to be old and poorly maintained. He put its value at $250,000.
See the contractor solicitation, the survey report and a bunch of photos here.
They're seeking a contractor to "dismantle and dispose of the ship."
Marine surveyor Jack McFarland found the vessel to be old and poorly maintained. He put its value at $250,000.
See the contractor solicitation, the survey report and a bunch of photos here.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Authorities investigate crewman death at Cordova
From the Alaska State Troopers:
Location: Cordova
Type: Unexpected death
On 6/4/12 at approximately 0645 hours, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that the F/V Northern Mariner had an unexpected death occur aboard the vessel between midnight and 0530 hours. The deceased was reported as Sean M. Johnson, a 34-year-old resident of Cordova, who was a crewmember aboard the vessel. A death aboard a fishing vessel is considered a "serious marine incident" by the USCG, which is investigating the incident. The vessel is currently in transit to Cordova and expected late this evening where the state will take possession of the remains. The state medical examiner has requested the body for an autopsy. Next of kin notification is complete.
Location: Cordova
Type: Unexpected death
On 6/4/12 at approximately 0645 hours, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that the F/V Northern Mariner had an unexpected death occur aboard the vessel between midnight and 0530 hours. The deceased was reported as Sean M. Johnson, a 34-year-old resident of Cordova, who was a crewmember aboard the vessel. A death aboard a fishing vessel is considered a "serious marine incident" by the USCG, which is investigating the incident. The vessel is currently in transit to Cordova and expected late this evening where the state will take possession of the remains. The state medical examiner has requested the body for an autopsy. Next of kin notification is complete.
Unhand that halibut!
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting in Kodiak this week, and the big item on the agenda is halibut bycatch.
With halibut biomass declining in the North Pacific, the council is under considerable pressure to do something to curb waste of the premium fish.
Thus, it would appear inevitable that Gulf of Alaska commercial fleets are going to have to swallow some painful measures to reduce the bycatch, or incidental take, of halibut while pursuing other species such as pollock and cod.
As a "prohibited species," halibut caught incidentally must be thrown overboard, whether alive or dead.
As it stands, the Gulf trawl fleet has an annual limit of 2,000 metric tons of halibut bycatch, while the longline fleet has a 300-ton limit.
The council is expected to consider cutting these limits by 5 to 15 percent.
As you might imagine, a groundswell of voices is urging the council to take the most stringent action against the industry.
Here is one example. And another.
One state legislator is even encouraging people to call the governor to put heat on council members.
With halibut biomass declining in the North Pacific, the council is under considerable pressure to do something to curb waste of the premium fish.
Thus, it would appear inevitable that Gulf of Alaska commercial fleets are going to have to swallow some painful measures to reduce the bycatch, or incidental take, of halibut while pursuing other species such as pollock and cod.
As a "prohibited species," halibut caught incidentally must be thrown overboard, whether alive or dead.
As it stands, the Gulf trawl fleet has an annual limit of 2,000 metric tons of halibut bycatch, while the longline fleet has a 300-ton limit.
The council is expected to consider cutting these limits by 5 to 15 percent.
As you might imagine, a groundswell of voices is urging the council to take the most stringent action against the industry.
Here is one example. And another.
One state legislator is even encouraging people to call the governor to put heat on council members.
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