Three crewmembers were rescued and the search is on for two more from a fishing vessel that sank 14 miles northeast of Dutch Harbor on Dec. 6.
U.S. Coast Guard officials in Anchorage said that a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew and four good Samaritan crews responded to the sinking fishing vessel Exito, which is homeported in Akutan, after it began taking on water on the evening of Dec. 6.
The Jayhawk aircrew and Good Samaritan crews on the commercial fishing vessels Commitment, Blue North, and Northern Leader were continuing to search for two remaining crewmembers from the Exito. Crewmembers brought on board the Afognak Strait reported that one of the missing men had put on an immersion suit and was last seen preparing to abandon ship.
Coast Guard Sector Anchorage received a phone call at 9:38 p.m. on Dec. 6 from the owner of the Exito reporting that the vessel was taking on water and the crew was preparing to abandon ship. Weather at the time was eight-foot seas and 25-35 mile an hour winds.
The Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley was diverted to the scene and the Jayhawk helicopter was launched.
Lt. Joey Schlosser, a 17th District command duty officer, said that “in Alaska’s vast waterways, the civil/military partnerships the Coast Guard shares with Good Samaritan crews makes rescues like this possible.
“As we continue to search for the two missing crewmembers, we appreciate the assistance of the additional vessels still searching in conjunction with Coast Guard assets, especially the fishing vessel Afognak Strait for executing the rescue and transportation of the rescued mariners.”
Cause of the sinking is under investigation.
