ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak rescued two men from a vessel taking on water near Dutch Harbor Tuesday.
The helicopter crew hoisted the mariners from the fishing vessel Alaskan Catch and safely transported them to Dutch Harbor.
Watchstanders at the 17th District command center in Juneau received a satellite phone call from the crew of the Alaskan Catch after the vessel began taking on water near Unalga Island east of Dutch Harbor. The two men aboard the vessel reported the Alaskan Catch was flooding near shore and taking damage due to rocks and waves. Watchstanders requested the launch of the helicopter crew and a C-130 Hercules airplane crew from Kodiak while the men donned survival suits.
The C-130 crew arrived to the scene to provide visual and radio contact with the men until the MH-60 crew arrived. Neither of the men was injured.
"The crew of the Alaskan Catch made the right move by donning their immersion suits at the first sign of flooding," said Chief Petty Officer Joshua Ryan, a watchstander at the 17th District command center. “Emergencies can occur at any time and having the right safety equipment is critical when operating in Alaska’s extreme environment.”
Weather on scene was reported to consist of 2-8 foot seas and cloudy skies with 15-23-mph winds.