Rescue Operation in the Gulf of Alaska
The United States Coast Guard successfully conducted a rescue operation in the Gulf of Alaska, saving four crew members from a sinking tugboat approximately 130 miles south of Cordova. The incident began when the Coast Guard Arctic District command center in Juneau received a distress call at 10:17 a.m., reporting that the vessel, Sea Ranger, was taking on water.
Initial Assessment and Response
An HC-130 Super Hercules aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak was dispatched to assess the situation. By 1:08 p.m., the crew was contacted and found to be in no immediate danger. The aircrew provided a dewatering pump to assist the vessel, then returned to base. However, conditions deteriorated as the vessel became adrift, with smoke emanating from the engine room, ongoing flooding, and malfunctioning pumps.
Escalation and Rescue
Responding to the worsening crisis, both a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and another HC-130 were sent for urgent support. The helicopter arrived at the scene at 7:42 p.m. and successfully hoisted all four crew members from the vessel. They were safely transported to Cordova for medical ...