Two people are reported safe and uninjured after their fishing vessel started taking on water outside of Southeast Alaska.
The crew of the 47-foot troller Rosalyn issued a mayday call about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday from the Fairweather Grounds northwest of Sitka. The crew reported that the vessel had minimal propulsion and lost steering. The vessel’s homeport was not determined.
A Coast Guard H-60 helicopter was dispatched from Air Station Sitka to rescue two unidentified crewmembers and bring them back to Sitka.
Search and rescue controller Vince Grochowski at Coast Guard’s Sector Juneau said seas in the area were 8 to 12 feet and winds were blowing at 40 knots. The two crew had donned survival suits before abandoning ship, but the weather was too rough to deploy a life raft.
As of Tuesday morning, a C-130 aircraft from Air Station Kodiak was headed to the scene to check on the vessel’s status and any potential pollution.