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Coast Guard rescues three fishermen

 

October 21, 2003
Tuesday - 7:50 pm


Ketchikan, AK - A Coast Guard helicopter rescue crew airlifted three fishermen after their boat lost steering forcing them to anchor just south of Windy Point approximately 30 miles southwest of Ketchikan early this morning.

The Coast Guard Command Center here received a distress call Monday night around 11:30 p.m. from Curtis Brown, the master of the Ketchikan-based, 36-foot fishing vessel Motherlode. Brown reported that his vessel's steering failed and that inclement weather forced the ship's anchor to drag. Brown reported that he and his two unnamed crewmen anchored just south of Windy Point in about 150 feet of water. Brown reported that his crew experienced weather conditions bringing gusty winds up to 40 miles per hour and 10-foot waves.

The Coast Guard launched a Jayhawk helicopter rescue crew from Air Station Sitka to assist the men. When the rescue crew arrived on scene, they instructed the three men to don survival suits and jump into the water one at a time, so they could hoist them. The rescue crew couldn't hoist them from the Motherlode's deck because of the rough weather conditions and ship's size.

After successfully hoisting the three men, the Jayhawk rescue crew transported them to Ketchikan International Airport this morning. The boat's crew is currently making commercial arrangements to salvage the Motherlode. The fishermen suffered no injuries during the incident.

 

 

Source of News Release:

United States Coast Guard
Web Site


 

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