The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) — A good Samaritan crew on the vessel Just In Case rescued five fishermen after The Capt’n Andrew, a 57-foot fishing vessel, ran aground on Bold Cape four miles southeast of King Cove Sunday morning.
The fishing vessels Golden Dawn and Just In Case responded while the Coast Guard put out an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast requesting local vessels that could safely assist the crew of the Capt’n Andrew which was aground.
A crewmember of the Just In Case deployed a skiff and took the 5-person crew off the partially submerged vessel and transferred them to the Just In Case while the Golden Dawn crew relayed information to the Coast Guard. Two Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters forward-deployed in St. Paul were launched but were not needed.
“In Alaska, good samaritans often play an essential role in remote rescues, when vast distances can delay a Coast Guard response,” said Jennifer Whitcomb, search and rescue controller at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Juneau.
The Just In Case safely transported all five crewmembers to King Cove with no reported injuries.
The Capt’n Andrew reportedly is carrying approximately 2000 gallons of diesel fuel. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage is investigating.
Weather on scene was reportedly 10-knot winds and less than a mile of visibility.
