(SitNews) - Good Samaritans aboard the 98-foot fishing vessel Aleutian Beauty rescued five fishermen from a life raft in the Bering Sea Sunday after they abandoned their burning vessel.

The good Samaritans, responding to a Coast Guard issued urgent marine information broadcast, were first on scene about 69 miles west of Adak and rescued the crewmen from the life raft. All five mariners were reportedly in good condition and were transited to Adak aboard the Seattle-based longliner Aleutian Beauty.

At last report the mariners' 59-foot Kodiak-based Western Venture was still afloat and emitting smoke from a reported fire aboard the vessel. The fishing vessel was reported unlit and adrift. A broadcast notice to mariners was issued to alert those in the area of the hazard to navigation.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage personnel will investigate the cause of the fire and work with the owner to determine if salvage of the vessel is possible. The Western Venture reportedly has a potential fuel load of 4,300 gallons of diesel and other oils. It is unknown at this time exactly how much fuel was aboard the vessel when the fire occurred or if any of it has been burned up.

Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders in Juneau received a personal locator beacon alert followed by an EPIRB alert Sunday morning prompting callouts to the vessel, issuance of the UMIB and the launch of Kodiak-based Coast Guard aircraft in Kodiak and deployed to Cold Bay and Sitka.

“The assistance of good Samaritans like the crew of the Aleutian Beauty is vital to saving lives in Alaska where we are regularly faced with harsh conditions and vast distances,” said Lt. Colin Boyle, a search and rescue controller with the 17th District command center. “Preparedness is integral to survival and the Western Venture crew were proactive with their use of survival gear allowing them to stay alive until good Samaritans and our HC-130 Hercules airplane crew arrived on scene.”

Weather conditions were reportedly 22 mph winds with seas up to four feet and good visibility.

The Coast Guard reminds all mariners to ensure they have required emergency equipment aboard their vessel, to register their EPIRBS and to conduct emergency drills at least once a month.

Vessel owners and operators are encouraged to get their free dockside commercial fishing vessel safety exams. Exams are available by calling Coast Guard Sector Anchorage at 907-271-6700, Coast Guard Sector Juneau at 907-463-2448 or the nearest Coast Guard marine safety detachment. More information about fishing vessel safety and the associated regulations is available at www.fishsafe.info.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

USCG
www.uscg.mil

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