A Coast Guard air crew hoisted four people safely from a tugboat sinking in the Gulf of Alaska Aug. 1, Coast Guard officials said.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Arctic District command center in Juneau received a report at approximately 10:17 a.m. that the 110’ tug Sea Ranger was taking on water 130 miles south of Cordova.
The command center staff directed the launch of an HC-130 Super Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak to respond. The Hercules aircrew located the vessel around 1:08 p.m. and established communications with the crew, who reported they were not in distress. The air crew dropped a dewatering pump to the Sea Ranger and headed back to Kodiak.
Then at 3:57 p.m., the Coast Guard watchstanders received another report from the Sea Ranger crew stating they were adrift, had smoke in the engine room, were taking on water, and were unable to start their dewatering pumps. Air crews in a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Super Hercules then launched from Kodiak. The helicopter arrived on scene at
Around 7:42 the helicopter crew arrived on scene and hoisted the four crew members.
All were flown to awaiting emergency medical services in Cordova for evaluation where no medical concerns were reported.
“Given its remote location in the Gulf of Alaska, this challenging rescue resulted in the best possible outcome and demonstrated the dedication and professionalism of Coast Guard aircrews,” said Lt. Evan Sutton, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard Arctic District. “These mariners were well-equipped and demonstrated the importance of having appropriate lifesaving and communications equipment on hand such as life rafts, survival suits, and long-range distress communication devices.”
