Unified Command calls off search for missing fishing vessel Alaska Juris
Jul 30th, 2016
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), and the Fishing Company of Alaska (FCA), which formed a Unified Command to respond to the sinking fishing vessel Alaska Juris, in the Bering Sea, have called off the search for the missing vessel which is presumed sunk in approximately 5,400 feet of water. “We have searched and have not been able to locate the fishing vessel Alaska Juris,” said Lt. Todd Bagetis, federal on-scene coordinator representative. “During this robust search, the safety of response personnel, the public and protection of the local environment have been our top priorities. I’d like to recognize close coordination and cooperation between Fishing Company of Alaska, the State of Alaska and various State and Federal agencies for their support and response effort.”
The Unified Command had activated the fishing vessel Alaska Endeavor, the salvage tug Resolve Pioneer, and a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew to search the area northwest of Adak, Alaska, where the fishing vessel Alaska Juris was last seen. Searches by sea were conducted on July 28-30, and air searches were conducted on July 29 and 30, with the vessel not being found. A search was also conducted along the track of the vessel’s projected drift.
Unrecoverable diesel sheen was located in the search area with the source of the sheen unknown but believed to be from the Alaska Juris.
Through an abundance of caution, the Fishing Company of Alaska formally activated a State and Federally-approved oil spill response organization, Alaska Chadux, per FCA’s non-tank vessel response plan. The Unified Command has since stood down Alaska Chadux.
“We have received reports of intermittent unrecoverable sheen, potentially resulting from the sinking of this vessel,” said Ron Doyle, state on-scene coordinator. “We do not anticipate any shoreline impacts. We will continue to monitor the situation and look into any future reports we receive as our common goal is protecting Alaska’s environment”
The cause of the fishing vessel Alaska Juris sinking is under investigation. It was originally reported that the ship developed engine problems and started taking in water.
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UPDATE: Owner of factory trawler abandoned by crew also owned Alaska Ranger, a factory trawler that sank in the Bering Sea on March 23, 2008. Five people died in the incident.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS / KTUU |
Posted: Tue 5:11 PM, Jul 26, 2016 |
Updated: Wed 3:29 PM, Jul 27, 2016
ANCHORAGE Wednesday 12:10 p.m. UPDATE
A private tugboat is en route to the factory trawler Alaska Juris which took on water Tuesday, forcing 46 crew to don survival suits and abandon ship.
The Coast Guard says the trawler had a problem in the engine room that led to flooding off the Aleutian Islands. The agency plans to conduct a flyover Wednesday to see if the 220-foot vessel is still afloat and determine if any pollution has spilled.
The crew were picked up by good Samaritan vessels and are expected to arrive in Adak Wednesday afternoon.
The tugboat will put a track on the vessel and help the Coast Guard develop a salvage and recovery plan for the trawler, owned by the Fishing Company of Alaska of Renton, Wash., said Coast Guard spokesman Kelly Parker.
A 25-year-old man, Andrew Fotu, died aboard the Alaska Juris on March 1, 2012, according to state troopers. A cable was laying on the deck snapped, tossed Fotu to the deck a few feet away. He died as a result, troopers said.
The Fishing Company of Alaska also owned the Alaska Ranger, a factory trawler that sank in the Bering Sea on March 23, 2008. Five people died in the incident.
Wednesday 11 a.m. UPDATE
Two Good Samaritan vessels, carrying 46 people who abandoned a sinking factory trawler west of Dutch Harbor, are about five to 10 miles away from Adak Island where they will off-load their passengers, according ot the Coast Guard.
The 220-foot fishing vessel Alaska Juris began taking on water near Kiska Island on Tuesday morning.
All 46 crew members donned survival suits, got into life rafts and made it safely onto merchant ships that responded to a marine emergency radio call.
The crew members are currently aboard the Seafisher, a fishing vessel, and the Ocean Peace, a merchant ship, according to Kodiak-based Coast Guard spokeswoman Lauren Steenson.
Update as of 9:45 PM
Forty-six people were rescued after abandoning a sinking fishing vessel near Kiska Island, approximately 690 miles west of Dutch Harbor. The original call from the fishing vessel Alaska Juris came in at approximately 11:30 Tuesday morning. The captain of the ship was contacted, according to the Coast Guard. The vessel's crew confirmed they were in distress, donning survival suits and were abandoning ship.
All forty-six people were transferred to Good Samaritan vessels Spar Canis and Vienna Express and taken to Adak. Aircrews from the Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak responded along with the Good Samaritan vessels.
There are no reports of injuries. Weather is the area is reported as calm seas with limited visibility. The cause of the vessel taking on water is under investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Updated as of 6:10 PM
Two "Good Samaritan" vessels are on scene and assisting. A Coast Guard C130 aircraft is monitoring the scene. A second C130 and two Coast Guard helicopters are en route from Kodiak to the scene.
Petty Officer John Paul Rios, U.S. Coast Guard, said they received an alert at 11:34 AM through an EPIRB message. EPIRB stands for Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon. Once the EPIRB was activated, the Coast Guard contacted the captain of the ship who said they were taking on water.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Original Story
Forty-six people have abandoned a sinking fishing vessel in Alaska's Aleutian Islands The Coast Guard says all 46 donned survival suits Tuesday and were awaiting rescue in three life rafts.
The Coast Guard says a Good Samaritan vessel was on scene, and Petty Officer Kelly Parker said the plan is for all 46 crew members to board the Spar Canis.
A Coast Guard spokesman said the crew members were off the 220-foot fishing vessel Alaska Juris, which was taking on water Tuesday morning. The ship is sinking near Kiska Island, about 690 miles west of Dutch Harbor, one of the nation's busiest fishing ports.
Two others civilian ships and a Coast Guard cutter were en route. The Coast Guard is also sending two helicopters, and it has a military transport plane in the vicinity.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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