The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday called off its search for five crewmembers missing from a fishing vessel that reportedly overturned in the frigid waters near Couverden Point, Alaska.
The 50’ seiner Wind Walker issued a mayday call around 12:07 a.m. on Sunday, stating the boat was overturning in heavy seas.
The Coast Guard’s attempts to contact the crew went unanswered, but the agency said it received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert from the Wind Walker originating just south of Point Couverden in Icy Strait, southwest of Juneau.
The crew of a 280’ Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferry Hubbard was first to arrive on scene after hearing the Coast Guard's urgent marine information broadcast.
The Coast Guard immediately dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and a 45’ Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Junea to search for the missing seiner. The 420' polar icebreaker Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) and the 154' fast response cutter Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Denman (WPC 1149) also participated in the search efforts.
The Coast Guard suspended its search on Monday after its crews scoured more than 108 square nautical miles over the course of nearly 24 hours. Responders braved severe weather conditions, including 6’ seas, heavy snow, and winds reaching 45-60 mph.
“We stand in sorrow and solidarity with the friends and family of the people we were not able to find over the past 24 hours,” said Chief Warrant Officer James Koon, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska. “I am deeply grateful for the swiftness of our crews and other search assets who came together to amplify our efforts and completely saturate our search areas. Our collective hearts are with the friends and families of the who are experiencing the effects from this loss.”
