Fuel sheen from the overturned Pacific Knight has closed commercial fishing in the Nushagak District. (Viewer Submitted Photo)
UPDATE: Fuel from sunken vessel closes fishing in Nushagak District
By Kortnie Horazdovsky & Leroy Polk |Updated: Thu 5:24 PM, Jul 26, 2018
ANCHORAGE, AK (KTUU) - 5:00 p.m. Update:
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation says 800 gallons of diesel and 300 gallons of hydraulic fluid was on board F/V Pacific Knight when it capsized and sunk just north of Clark's Point, about 11 nautical miles south of Dillingham early Wednesday.
Reports of sheen were reported early Thursday morning, prompting the Department of Fish and Game to issue an emergency closure of the Nushagak District to fishing Thursday afternoon.
The owner of F/V Pacific Knight has reportedly hired contractor Resolve Marine to carry out salvage operations. A dive team departed from Anchorage Thursday morning and is scheduled to dive to the vessel at 9:30 p.m. during slack tide to conduct an initial assessment.
3:00 p.m. Update:
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the closure of the Nushagak District to all commercial fishing as of 1:00 p.m. Thursday after fuel from the sunken fishing vessel Pacific Knight was observed by air.
According to ADF&G, fuel was seen by Fish and Game staff pooling in tide rips. The sheen is expected to spread across Nushagak Bay toward Dillingham with the tide, and presents a "significant chance of gear and fish being exposed to fuel."
The department also warns of the chance for gear and fish to be contaminated on Dillingham's beaches.
ADF&G says staff will continue to monitor the spread of fuel. There is no immediate timetable for when fishing might reopen.
7 a.m. Update:
The search has been suspended for a fisherman who went missing after the boat he was on capsized, the Coast Guard said Wednesday evening.
Two were rescued in the incident, Jeb Phillips, 31 of Petersburg, and a teenager, were able to escape the sinking ship, but the third, John Phillips, 59 of Juneau, could not be found.
In a statement, they said that crews searched for Phillips over more than 25 square nautical miles and 23 nautical miles of coastline, for approximately six hours, before calling off the search.
"Ending a search is never easy, especially when working alongside so many people dedicated to finding the missing person. Our condolences go out to this man’s family and friends during this time of hardship," Coast Guard lieutenant Stephen Nolan said in a statement.
The USCG also extended their appreciation for the search efforts that ultimately saved the two other passengers.
"The reports and assistance from good Samaritans and State Trooper personnel allowed for a timely search and the immediate rescue of two people in this case," Nolan said.
Original Story:
A search is underway for a crewmember of a fishing tender that capsized in Nushagak Bay Wednesday morning. Alaska State Troopers and the Coast Guard were notified at about 7:50 a.m. Wednesday by a Good Samaritan vessel that the 58-foot vessel had capsized.
It was reported that the three crewmembers on the "Pacific Knight" woke up to the boat taking on water near Clark's Point, south of Dillingham.
Two of the crew members were rescued from the water by another Good Samaritan vessel.
The Coast Guard, Troopers and Good Samaritan vessels are still searching for the third person.
Coast Guard suspends search for person in the water in Nushagak Bay
Jul 26th, 2018
Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter file photo by PA1 Kurt Fredrickson
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard has suspended their search for a man reportedly missing after the fishing vessel he was on capsized with two other people aboard in Nushagak Bay, south of Dillingham, Alaska, Wednesday.
A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, Alaska State Trooper personnel and good Samaritans searched the area since the initial notification of distress was received. The Jayhawk crew searched more than 25 square nautical miles and 23 nautical miles of coastline, for approximately six hours.
Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstanders received a relayed report from the good Samaritan crew of the Bella Catherine reporting that a fishing vessel had capsized near Clark’s Point with three people aboard. Sector Anchorage watchstanders notified Coast Guard District 17 watchstanders who launched the Jayhawk crew. A good Samaritan crew aboard the fishing vessel Amanda C rescued two people from the water and transferred them to an Alaska State Trooper.
“The reports and assistance from good Samaritans and State Trooper personnel allowed for a timely search and the immediate rescue of two people in this case,” said Lt. Stephen Nolan, the District 17 command duty officer. “Ending a search is never easy, especially when working alongside so many people dedicated to finding the missing person. Our condolences go out to this man’s family and friends during this time of hardship.”
Weather on scene was reported as 5-10 mph winds and 2-3 ft seas.
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The United States Coast Guard received a report Wednesday morning that the F/V Pacific Knight capsized near Clark’s Point. The 58-foot long liner has been operating as a tender in Bristol Bay this summer.
The good samaritan vessel Amanda C reportedly rescued two people from the water. A third person who went overboard is still missing. It is unknown whether this person was wearing a personal flotation device.
A MH60 helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak is on scene searching for the missing person.