I Caught the Choppers Coming in on my way back from Alaska Ship Supply.
It is a nice sunny day but the wind is blowing quite hard. (Not as Bad as Akutan though, where April Dawn ins reporting 125mph gusts!)
Make sure to check out her blog since the ship did go to Ground on Akutan:http://aprildawnpelkey.blogspot.com/
Fishing crew safe on land; airlift under way
By ELIZABETH BLUEMINKebluemink@adn.com
Published: February 25th, 2009 09:04 AMLast Modified: February 25th, 2009 11:08 AM
The crew of a commercial fishing boat that ran aground early today in the Aleutian Islands has climbed onto dry land and is being airlifted to safety, according to the Coast Guard.
After receiving a mayday call this morning, a Coast Guard cutter and three rescue helicopters were sent to aid the crew of the Icy Mist, which ran aground off the rocky coast of Akutan Island, about 40 miles east of Dutch Harbor, a major Aleutians fishing port.
Shortly before 11 a.m., all four crew members climbed off the boat and onto the island. Coast Guard helicopters are getting ready to evacuate them, officials said.
The 58-foot Icy Mist is based in Kodiak and is equipped for crabbing and trawling. The boat has participated in many Alaska fisheries including crab, salmon and herring, state records show.
"It's one of the best-maintained in the entire Kodiak fleet," said Marty Owen, the city's harbor master.
Earlier today, foul weather and high winds were hampering rescue efforts, Coast Guard Petty Officer Walter Shinn said. The first helicopter sent, an HH-65 Dolphin launched from Dutch Harbor, was forced to turn back because of the wind, which was blowing at 45 mph, with gusts reaching 80 mph, Shinn said.
Ocean conditions were rough, with swells up to 15 feet, according to the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Cutter Munro, on patrol in the Bering Sea, was ordered to Akutan. Two larger helicopters, MH-60 Jayhawks, were also launched from St. Paul Island, about 265 miles northwest of Akutan, at about 8 a.m.
Shinn said the Coast Guard received a mayday call early today reporting that the boat was taking on water.
Communications are limited in the region. The mayday call was received by the vessel Arctic Fox and relayed to the Northern Glacier, whose crew contacted the Coast Guard.
The vessel was later reported aground on the island.
Akutan Island is 766 miles southwest of Anchorage.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Fishing crew safe on land; airlift under way
By ELIZABETH BLUEMINKebluemink@adn.com
Published: February 25th, 2009 09:04 AMLast Modified: February 25th, 2009 11:08 AM
The crew of a commercial fishing boat that ran aground early today in the Aleutian Islands has climbed onto dry land and is being airlifted to safety, according to the Coast Guard.
After receiving a mayday call this morning, a Coast Guard cutter and three rescue helicopters were sent to aid the crew of the Icy Mist, which ran aground off the rocky coast of Akutan Island, about 40 miles east of Dutch Harbor, a major Aleutians fishing port.
Shortly before 11 a.m., all four crew members climbed off the boat and onto the island. Coast Guard helicopters are getting ready to evacuate them, officials said.
The 58-foot Icy Mist is based in Kodiak and is equipped for crabbing and trawling. The boat has participated in many Alaska fisheries including crab, salmon and herring, state records show.
"It's one of the best-maintained in the entire Kodiak fleet," said Marty Owen, the city's harbor master.
Earlier today, foul weather and high winds were hampering rescue efforts, Coast Guard Petty Officer Walter Shinn said. The first helicopter sent, an HH-65 Dolphin launched from Dutch Harbor, was forced to turn back because of the wind, which was blowing at 45 mph, with gusts reaching 80 mph, Shinn said.
Ocean conditions were rough, with swells up to 15 feet, according to the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Cutter Munro, on patrol in the Bering Sea, was ordered to Akutan. Two larger helicopters, MH-60 Jayhawks, were also launched from St. Paul Island, about 265 miles northwest of Akutan, at about 8 a.m.
Shinn said the Coast Guard received a mayday call early today reporting that the boat was taking on water.
Communications are limited in the region. The mayday call was received by the vessel Arctic Fox and relayed to the Northern Glacier, whose crew contacted the Coast Guard.
The vessel was later reported aground on the island.
Akutan Island is 766 miles southwest of Anchorage.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
15 comments:
thanks for the pics and the updates...it is so scary to hear things like this...
Thanks CB, good to know all are safe. Boy do you keep Alaska Ship Supply in business! What today, invisible bags for the bagless vacuum?
Do you know for sure if the crew is back at Dutch? My Brother in law was on that boat.
I'd really appreciate it if you know?
here is the link to the coast guard website - maybe you could call them
http://www.uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/256409/
Thanks for the pictures CB. Good to know the Coast Guard finally got them airlifted back to Dutch.
Is this the beginning, middle or end of the storm you said was brewing out there yesterday?
thank God for the helicopters and the fisherman's creed of helping each other at sea.
Donna
Jason
Sorry For the late reply, Unisea Safety Committe meeting. Yes, the crew is back in Dutch.
Actually Frieda I was getting bags for my Housekeepers Vacuums.....LOL
and More Phone cards at Alaska Wireless for Original Productions because of all the time they are burning up because fo the Coast Guard Save.
Reading Thanks for the Info
And Debbie, It is supposed to be nice tomorrow, but we are in for a bumpy night!! And So far it has mainly been a wind storm, very little Precipitation.
Glad to hear crew is OK;musta been a helluva ride. Good job Coast Guard!
just glad to hear all the crew are safe and sound. great pics CB!
Glad to know the crew is safely back on dry land! Thanks CB, it's always good when something like this ends well.
Thank you for the wonderful update and the pictures, glad all are safe.
lucky 13 for me today :) Thanks for the update. Hope everyone is safe and sound!
If you go back to the home page of the ADN, there is a short video from the USCG.
http://www.adn.com/
Glad to hear this CB. I just got back from being gone and have soo missed your updates, pics and humor (not to mention those Sunday brunch desserts). Have a lot of catching up to do!
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