A USCG helicopter crew and the crew of a good Samaritan fishing vessel rescued three people from the sinking fishing vessel ‘Leona’ in the Sitka Sound, Alaska, on Monday.
USCG Sector Juneau watchstanders received a report at 10:30 p.m. from the master of the 33-foot ‘Leona’, stating the vessel was taking on water and the bilge pumps were unable to keep up with the rate of flooding.
Sector Juneau watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed an Air Station Sitka Jayhawk helicopter crew to the scene.
The Jayhawk crew lowered an emergency dewatering pump to the Leona, but the pump was also unable to keep up with the rapid flooding. As the ship continued to sink, the three crewmembers abandoned ship to the good Samaritan fishing vessel ‘Pacific Pearl’, which transported the Leona crew back to Sitka.
There are currently no reports of pollution, although ‘Leona’ had approximately 130 gallons of diesel fuel onboard, at the time of the incident.
However, an Air Station Sitka helicopter with an embarked pollution responder from USCG Marine Safety Detachment Sitka will conduct an overflight to search for any indication of an oil release on the surface of the water. Coast Guard Aids-to-Navigation Team Sitka will provide a boat crew to assist.
Cmdr. Michael Kahle, Sector Juneau search and rescue mission coordinator, said:
Even on the nicest of days at sea, an unplanned emergency can be just over the horizon. We are thankful that the crew of the Leona was prepared for an emergency situation and grateful for the efforts of the Pacific Pearl to assist their fellow fishermen.
Weather at the time was 5-foot seas and 11-mph winds.
