Coast Guard suspends search for person missing after Whittier fire, Alaska

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Charly Hengen (archive).

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a 49-year-old Cordova man who went missing after an explosion at the Delong Dock in Whittier, Alaska, Monday.

“The Coast Guard committed all available resources in conducting this search effort," said Cmdr. Mark Kuperman, Coast Guard Sector Anchorage deputy commander and the search-and-rescue mission coordinator for the search. "Our thoughts are with the family and friends who were impacted by this tragedy.”

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur and volunteers aboard Coast Guard Auxiliary Boat 336 conducted the search across approximately 12 square miles over the course of 17 hours.

The Coast Guard has conducted a next of kin notification and Coast Guard personnel have assumed lead in the National Safety Transportation Board investigation into the cause of the explosion.

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Coast Guard suspends search for person in the water in Nushagak Bay, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews searched in approximately 650 square miles a fishing man from the Pail Rider vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Kodiak (archive).

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard suspended its search for a person in the water in Nushagak Bay, Monday.

Two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews and a C-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Kodiak searched approximately 650 square miles over the course of more than ten hours for a male crew member from the commercial fishing vessel Pail Rider who went overboard at approximately 3 a.m.

The search was suspended at approximately 4 p.m.

"Despite our very best effort today along with about 10 fishing boat crews who helped us search, we were not able to locate the man who went overboard this morning,"​ said Ray Dwyer, Coast Guard 17th District command duty officer for the case. “After an exhaustive effort, the difficult decision was made to suspend.”

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Coast Guard Cordova FOL crew saves 66-year-old man stranded for three days on Montague Island, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, forward-deployed to Cordova, poses with a man they rescued after he was stranded for three days on Montague Island near Cordova, Alaska, June 13, 2019. The man exponentially increased his own rate of survival by donning a properly sealed survival suit while being stranded in a remote portion of Alaska. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Palen.

KODIAK, Alaska – A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, forward-deployed to Cordova, rescued a 66-year-old man stranded for three days on Montague Island, Alaska, Thursday.

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The man was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services personnel in Cordova for further care. He was reported to have been dehydrated but was in stable condition upon transfer.

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At approximately 6 a.m., Sector Anchorage command center watchstanders received notification from a Good Samaritan vessel of people reported to have been seen in survival suits on the rocks near the southern tip of Montague Island, Alaska.

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After the Good Samaritan vessel was unable to establish contact or get to the people, District issued an urgent marine information broadcast and granted the use of an Air Station Kodiak Jayhawk helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Valdez 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew to assist with the search.

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Once on scene, an aviation survival technician deployed to the beach from the helicopter and confirmed one person was in a survival suit on the island. The aircrew hoisted the man from Montague Island beach and transported him to Cordova for higher-level care.

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After speaking with the survivor, it was reported he was stranded for three days on the island after his vessel struck a rock and sank quickly near Montague Island.

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“This case is exactly why having all available survival equipment on hand is an absolute necessity in Alaska,” said Lt. j.g. Angella Thuotte, a Sector Anchorage command duty officer. “With the severe temperature drops, even in the summer, preparation increases the likelihood of survivability.”

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Weather on scene was 5-foot seas and calm winds.

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Coast Guard suspends search, owner of adrift boat located

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Bradley Pigage (archive).

ANCHORAGE, Alaska —The Coast Guard has suspended its search for potential persons in the water east of Whittier, Monday.

The owner of the boat has been located and the Coast Guard has confirmed there is nobody in distress.

"We understand that accidents happen and appreciate the owner of the boat coming forward and letting us know that his boat drifted away," said Mike McNeil, command duty officer for the case. "Folks are reminded to double check that their boats are secure when not in use."

For the initial release, visit:​ https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/248f746?reqfrom=share&fbclid=IwAR240R5hEaxCpqrcofC64dRz1W4LtpI1m6AH6-w8mreZqjuTYVclcidg0o8

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Coast Guard assesses grounded vessel Don Quixote at Cape Kuliuk, Kodiak, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew looks for potential pollution at the site of the grounded 76-foot landing craft Don Quixote at Cape Kuliuk, Kodiak Island, Alaska, Feb. 26, 2019.The two crew members aboard were unharmed in the grounding and able to make it to shore. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak.

KODIAK, Alaska​ — The Coast Guard is working with contractors to mitigate the pollution threat posed by a vessel that ran aground near Cape Kuliuk on Kodiak Island, Tuesday.

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The 76-foot landing craft Don Quixote was intentionally grounded by its operator Tuesday, approximately two miles south of Cape Kuliuk, after it began taking on water with two people aboard.

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The​ vessel remains grounded Wednesday on a pebble beach with an estimated maximum potential of 2,000 gallons of fuel oil onboard.

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The Coast Guard has opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Contractors for Global Diving and Salvage are scheduled to arrive on-scene Thursday to evaluate the vessel's seaworthiness and form a Coast Guard-approved plan to mitigate the pollution threat.

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"Our job is to ensure the potential for pollution in this situation is mitigated," said Lt. James Nunez, incident management division chief for Coast Guard Sector Anchorage. "Protecting the environment is our top priority."

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A Coast Guard overflight Wednesday morning confirmed minor sheening in the vicinity of the grounded vessel.

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The Coast Guard initially launched two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews and a C-130 Hercules Aircraft crew from Air Station Kodiak in response to distress calls made from the Don Quixote. Crews delivered dewatering pumps to help with the flooding.

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The cause of the flooding has not yet been verified by the Coast Guard.

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