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Coast Guard and good Samaritans search for people on board fishing boat that capsized in seas off Southeast Alaska
Posted on 12/01/2024
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The U.S. Coast Guard and good Samaritans, including a state ferry, are searching Sunday for multiple missing people who were on board a commercial fishing boat that reportedly capsized in cold seas in Icy Strait, southwest of Juneau.
Five people were thought to be on board based on “reports from individuals familiar with those aboard the vessel,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “This number has not been confirmed and is subject to change pending new information.”
Searchers have found cold-water safety gear and other emergency items but no people yet in the search area, according to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard reported heavy snow and strong winds up to 45-60 mph in the area Sunday, with 6-foot seas.
Around 12:10 a.m. Sunday, crew on board the roughly 50-foot-long vessel Wind Walker reported that “they were overturning” in a mayday call that was received by Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders, the Coast Guard said.
“The watchstanders attempted to gather additional information but received no response,” the Coast Guard said in its statement.
They received an emergency radio beacon alert registered to the Wind Walker, with location information originating from an area in Icy Strait south of Point Couverden, according to the Coast Guard.
Watchstanders issued an urgent broadcast and launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Sitka and a 45-foot response boat from Juneau to search the area, the Coast Guard said.
The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Hubbard, which was the first to arrive at the scene, had heard the broadcast and offered to help, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard said that “seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights have been located in the water in the search area” as responders continue searching for those missing.
The Wind Walker’s hailing port is Sitka, according to a federal database.
The search effort includes personnel from Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska, Coast Guard Station Juneau, Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Coast Guard Cutter Healy and the Hubbard state ferry.
Five people were thought to be on board based on “reports from individuals familiar with those aboard the vessel,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “This number has not been confirmed and is subject to change pending new information.”
Searchers have found cold-water safety gear and other emergency items but no people yet in the search area, according to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard reported heavy snow and strong winds up to 45-60 mph in the area Sunday, with 6-foot seas.
Around 12:10 a.m. Sunday, crew on board the roughly 50-foot-long vessel Wind Walker reported that “they were overturning” in a mayday call that was received by Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders, the Coast Guard said.
“The watchstanders attempted to gather additional information but received no response,” the Coast Guard said in its statement.
They received an emergency radio beacon alert registered to the Wind Walker, with location information originating from an area in Icy Strait south of Point Couverden, according to the Coast Guard.
Watchstanders issued an urgent broadcast and launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Sitka and a 45-foot response boat from Juneau to search the area, the Coast Guard said.
The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Hubbard, which was the first to arrive at the scene, had heard the broadcast and offered to help, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard said that “seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights have been located in the water in the search area” as responders continue searching for those missing.
The Wind Walker’s hailing port is Sitka, according to a federal database.
The search effort includes personnel from Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska, Coast Guard Station Juneau, Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Coast Guard Cutter Healy and the Hubbard state ferry.
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