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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15 |
Well Kingfisher Charters called in the over due boat and this is what their web site says they have for boats.. The boats in the Kingfisher fleet are ideal for fishing in the Sitka area. They're fast cruisers of 28'-32' that have enclosed cabins with heat and private bathroom facilities.
A wide beam makes these boats very stable fishing platforms, with a deep V hull for a comfortable ride. https://www.kingfishercharters.co/U.S. Coast Guard Alaska
7h ·
The Coast Guard is searching for four missing people who were last seen near Sitka, Sunday night.
The Coast Guard continues searching for the four missing individuals.
Coast Guard personnel began their search Sunday evening after Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders received a phone call from Kingfisher Charters who reported a charter vessel overdue with five people aboard.
The vessel was found partially submerged near Low Island, approximately 1 mile east of Shoals Point, Kruzof Island.
The vessel was last seen underway yesterday afternoon in the vicinity of Cape Edgecumbe, near Sitka Sound.
The Coast Guard recovered 1 deceased individual after arriving on scene and search efforts continue for the remaining individuals.
Involved in the search are:
· Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center
· Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, MH-60 Helicopter aircrew
· Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, C-130 Hercules aircrew
· Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Sitka 38-foot Special Purpose Craft boat crew
· Sentinel-class fast response Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Denman
· Sitka Fire Department
· Several Good Samaritan vessels
“There are currently so many unknowns, we are thankful for the coordination efforts from several municipal agencies including the Sitka Fire Department and Good Samaritan vessels on scene.” said Lt. Trevor Layman, Command Duty Officer.“We’re working quickly to locate the unaccounted-for individuals.”
Anyone with information is requested to contact Coast Guard Sector Juneau at 907-463-2890.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 8
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 8 |
Kind of a gut punch for the fleet. I was out Sunday and it was nasty.
RIP to the 5 souls. Terrible tragedy.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,253 Likes: 15
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,253 Likes: 15 |
Bad, bad deal.
Just from the cursory and unofficial internet reports I have read, including those linked here, this isn't making sense. There's more to this story.
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,948 Likes: 13
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,948 Likes: 13 |
RIP to the 5 souls. Terrible tragedy. +1
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,948 Likes: 13
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,948 Likes: 13 |
Low Island is a long way from where they were last seen fishing. I’ve only spent limited time out there but there can be some nasty rips and big waves with the wrong current and wind. “Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?”
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,948 Likes: 13
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,948 Likes: 13 |
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15 |
. U.S. Coast Guard Alaska Update 4h · The Coast Guard suspended its search at sunset Monday for four missing individuals in the water near Sitka, Alaska. The Coast Guard recovered one deceased individual Sunday evening and located the vessel partially submerged off Low Island approximately 10 miles west of Sitka. The search for the four unaccounted for individuals was suspended at approximately 9:30 p.m. Monday. Watchstanders at Sector Juneau received a phone call Sunday evening from Kingfisher Charters reporting a 30-foot aluminum charter vessel overdue with five people aboard, including one master and four passengers. The vessel was last seen underway Sunday afternoon. Involved in the search were: · Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center · Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 helicopter aircrew · Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules aircrew · Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Sitka 38-foot Special Purpose Craft boat crew · Sentinel-class fast response Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Denman · Sitka Fire Department · Several good Samaritan vessels · Hanson Maritime Anyone with information is requested to contact Coast Guard Sector Juneau at 907-463-2890. Coast Guard crews searched a total of approximately 825 square miles over the course of more than 20 hours utilizing both air and vessel search crews. "Despite our best efforts and those of several partner agencies, we were not able to find the four remaining individuals, " said Capt. Darwin Jensen, Captain of the Port Southeast Alaska. "Suspending a search is never an easy decision. We extend our deepest sympathy to the loved ones during this difficult time. Our sincere thanks to community partners and the good Samaritan vessels who rapidly responded to help in the search."
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,676 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,676 Likes: 3 |
Absolutely terrible. With no witnesses I hope they have some way of piecing together what happened. My heart goes out to the victims and their family members.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 8
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 8 |
That’s a commonly fished area.
If I had to guess it would be the boat got one of the engines wrapped up pulling the anchor in heavy seas and rolled. If you say anything on the radio in Sitka on Memorial Day weekend 500 boats will hear you. Had to be fast for the Capt to not get off a call.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,576 Likes: 17
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,576 Likes: 17 |
No EPIRB in a float free location?
No PLB on anyone?
Nobody wore PFDs?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
No EPIRB in a float free location?
No PLB on anyone?
Nobody wore PFDs? Typically people don't wear PFD's on fishing charters, they are on the boat but not required to be worn. That said, the water in AK is typically so cold unless you have a survival suit on, you have maybe 30 minutes. I don't believe EPIRBs are required for 6 pack boats.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,576 Likes: 17
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,576 Likes: 17 |
No EPIRB in a float free location?
No PLB on anyone?
Nobody wore PFDs? Typically people don't wear PFD's on fishing charters, they are on the boat but not required to be worn. That said, the water in AK is typically so cold unless you have a survival suit on, you have maybe 30 minutes. I don't believe EPIRBs are required for 6 pack boats. Just because something isn't required doesn't mean that it's not a good idea. Manual inflatable belt PFDs are so comfortable that it's easy to forget you have one on. EPIRBS and PLBs cost $350. The cold water is a real deal. It's possible that with an EPIRB alert and PFDs, they'd all still be with us. With PFDs, even if they didn't survive, their families could have closure.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 8
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 8 |
No Epirb but I expect some new regs to come out of this.
Bigger issue is going to be why the lodge waited so long to call it in. That area is well within radio range and should have good cellular service. But to be fair I don’t recall a charter boat ever going down before.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15 |
Authorities said the Sitka charter company called the Coast Guard after the boat was overdue and the skipper did not respond to calls. The Coast Guard said the boat was equipped with an emergency locating beacon but it had not been activated.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
No EPIRB in a float free location?
No PLB on anyone?
Nobody wore PFDs? Typically people don't wear PFD's on fishing charters, they are on the boat but not required to be worn. That said, the water in AK is typically so cold unless you have a survival suit on, you have maybe 30 minutes. I don't believe EPIRBs are required for 6 pack boats. Just because something isn't required doesn't mean that it's not a good idea. Manual inflatable belt PFDs are so comfortable that it's easy to forget you have one on. EPIRBS and PLBs cost $350. The cold water is a real deal. It's possible that with an EPIRB alert and PFDs, they'd all still be with us. With PFDs, even if they didn't survive, their families could have closure. Which is why on my own personal boat everyone wears a pfd and I carry cold water survival suits. While inflatable pfd's are comfortable, they don't always work. I need to add an EPIRB. The real question is if conditions are really nasty, why go out fishing? No fish is worth dying for.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,743 Likes: 15 |
That’s a commonly fished area.
If I had to guess it would be the boat got one of the engines wrapped up pulling the anchor in heavy seas and rolled. If you say anything on the radio in Sitka on Memorial Day weekend 500 boats will hear you. Had to be fast for the Capt to not get off a call. Yeah, it was something that happened real quick. If they'd found themselves really challenged by the winds and waves most likely they'd have put on the PFDs. Of course I've not read anything that stated they weren't wearing PDFs just yet. But we all know they don't save you from cold water.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 8
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 8 |
Authorities said the Sitka charter company called the Coast Guard after the boat was overdue and the skipper did not respond to calls. The Coast Guard said the boat was equipped with an emergency locating beacon but it had not been activated. From what I read, is they contacted the coasties at 6pm. All charters I know come in no later than 4pm if they depart at 6am. 2 hours is a long time to wait if you can’t raise them in the radio or phone on a [bleep] weather day. I am sure the lawyers will sort that all out.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,493
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,493 |
Another life lost on Birch Creek out of Central.
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