U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Snell.
JUNEAU, Alaska – A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60T Jayhawk aircrew conducted the rescue of 5 fishermen from a fishing vessel taking on water near Umnak Island, Alaska. Thursday, April 2, 2026.
No injuries were reported.
The fishing vessel remains aground on the northern shoreline of Umnak Island.
At approximately 4:45 a.m. Thursday, watchstanders at the Coast Guard Arctic District Command Center in Juneau received a call from the crew of fishing vessel Ocean Bay stating they were aground and taking on water.
The MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew transferred the five Ocean Bay crewmembers to emergency medical services (EMS) in Dutch Harbor with no reported injuries.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak.
U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
Coast Guard watchstanders directed the launch of an MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew and an HC-130J Super Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak. Watchstanders also diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) crew and transmitted an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) to notify mariners the area of the situation.
At approximately 5 a.m., good Samaritan vessel Seafreeze Alaska arrived on scene and relayed communication between Ocean Bay and the command center.
The HC-130J Hercules aircrew and USCGC Waesche crew arrived on scene at approximately 8 a.m. to relieve the Seafreeze Alaska crew and maintain communication with Ocean Bay. During this time, the fishing vessel Ocean Bay crew was able to successfully dewater the vessel and stop the source of the flooding.
The MH-60T Jayhawk MRR Helicopter aircrew arrived on scene at approximately 11:15 a.m., deployed the rescue swimmer and successfully hoisted all five people from the fishing vessel using a rescue basket. Once onboard the rescue helicopter aircrew transporting them to awaiting emergency medical services (EMS) in Dutch Harbor.
Resolve Marine has been contracted to oversee salvage operations of the grounded vessel.
“The successful rescue of five individuals from the fishing vessel Ocean Bay is a direct result of the integrated and highly professional efforts of our personnel,” said Chief Petty Officer Alex Washington, a command duty officer at the Coast Guard Arctic District Command Center. “This operation emphasizes the effectiveness of our coordinated search and rescue capabilities and our unwavering commitment to preserving life at sea.”
–USCG–
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