Coast Guard Alaska Assists Commercial Fishing Vessels, Crew Members

On May 25, the U.S. Coast Guard assisted a disabled commercial fishing vessel and aided in the medevac of a crew member from another vessel.

The first incident involved the rescue of five people near Sitka, Alaska. A 29-foot response boat crew with Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Seattle, currently operating out of Sitka, responded.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska had received a relayed report from Sitka Dispatch that the 35-foot commercial trawler Kari Ann was disabled, unable to drop anchor and drifting toward rocks in the Western Channel.

On May 26, the vessel was towed to Allen Marine, a southwest Alaska tour operator.

The same day, the Coast Guard and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center teamed up to medevac a crew member from a fishing vessel 30 miles southeast of Togiak, Alaska.

Watchstanders at the 17th Coast Guard District received a relayed phone call from fishing vessel Alaska Victory requesting a medevac for a 42-year-old man with a leg injury.

The crew member was transferred ashore in Togiak by a local fisherman on a small boat. Once there, an HC-130 Hercules air crew from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center transported the patient from Togiak to Anchorage where he was met by emergency medical services.