ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard announced on Monday that the search for five individuals believed to be aboard a fishing vessel that capsized in tumultuous waters of the Gulf of Alaska has officially concluded. The intensive search operation spanned nearly 24 hours and encompassed an area exceeding 108 square nautical miles, equivalent to around 370 square kilometers.
“Our hearts go out to the friends and family of those who were not located during the past day,” stated Chief Warrant Officer James Koon, who coordinates search and rescue efforts at the Coast Guard Sector in Southeast Alaska.
The distress signal was initiated by the crew of the Wind Walker at 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, indicating that the 50-foot vessel was sinking near Point Couverden, which is southwest of Juneau. As the Coast Guard mobilized its response efforts, attempts to make contact with the crew were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to further communications, according to reports from the Coast Guard.
The state ferry Hubbard was the first to arrive at the location after overhearing the emergency broadcast. It was then followed by a Coast Guard helicopter, MH-60 Jayhawk, along with a response boat. Compounding the challenges, a winter storm warning was in effect, bringing heavy snowfall, winds reaching 60 mph, and waves measuring 6 feet in height, complicating the search for responders.
Two Coast Guard cutters, designated as Healy and Douglas Denman, also participated in the search efforts. While responders located seven empty cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights, they found no additional evidence of the vessel or its occupants. Furthermore, the Healy deployed advanced underwater sonar technology, but the search yielded no traces of the boat.
From the air, the helicopter crew identified the cold-water immersion suits near Spasski Bay, which lies approximately 10 miles southwest of Point Couverden. Four of the suits were seen floating in the water, while three were observed on land, as noted by Coast Guard Petty Officer John Hightower. Unfortunately, these suits were unoccupied, and it remained uncertain whether they had been worn prior to being found.
These survival suits are crafted from a neoprene-like substance that allows for rapid wear over clothing and serves to aid in surviving cold water conditions. Additionally, they contain integrated flotation devices and inflatable pillows to assist individuals in staying afloat while resting their heads above water.
Given that the cutters had access to the Wind Walker’s emergency beacon GPS coordinates, the area subjected to search was relatively limited, according to Hightower. With reports stating that the vessel was in the process of overturning, the most plausible scenario is that it capsized and subsequently sank. “That seems like the most likely option; however, we continue to consider all possibilities since verification has yet to occur,” Hightower acknowledged.
Throughout the weekend, Juneau experienced significant snowfall, accumulating up to 17 inches, while the water temperature was reported to be around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. These harsh environmental conditions undoubtedly presented additional obstacles to the search and rescue mission, as reported by the National Weather Service in Juneau.
