Fishing boat sinks off Alaska, 4 dead

[captnemo]

Sad story. Prayers for the family of the missing crewman and those who died.



ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Four crew members died Sunday and another was missing after a Seattle-based fishing boat sank in high seas off Alaska's Aleutian Islands, the Coast Guard said.

The dead were among 47 crew members who abandoned ship after the 184-foot Alaska Ranger developed problems. Forty-two crew members were recovered safely, but a search was continuing for the missing person, said Chief Petty Officer Barry Lane.

The vessel started taking on water shortly before 3 a.m. after losing control of its rudder 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, which is on Unalaska Island. Seas with up to 8-foot waves and 25-knot winds were reported at the time of the sinking, Lane said. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the accident, he said.
State environmental regulators were notified that the ship was carrying 145,000 gallons of diesel when it sank in deep seas, according to Leslie Pearson, emergency response manager for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

An oil sheen covered an area of a quarter mile by a half mile, Coast Guard spokesman Ray Dwyer said. Because of the strong winds, however, any cleanup effort is unlikely, although those conditions would disperse a spill much more quickly than calm weather, Pearson said.

[surferman]

Those guys work really hard. I know someone who worked a fishing boat out there on a six month run.

Condolences to the family.

[clamchucker]

Fact of life in that area, but still a tragedy. Thoughts and prayers to the families. RIP

[paco33]

very sad, rip

[fishlipper]

It's s tough way to make a living. 3 weeks on, 2 weeks off, the money's good, but you never know what day will be your last. Prayers for the families.

[ledhead36]

145,000 gallons diesel. They were out for a long run. rip, prayers for the families.