Archive image: U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aviators, assigned to Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic out of Air Station Kodiak, conduct a hoist rescue demonstration while participating in a multi-agency hoist symposium at Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 22, 2025.
Alaska Army National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña.
JUNEAU, Alaska — A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk aircrew conducted the rescue of nine fishermen from a grounded fishing vessel near St. George Island, Alaska. Monday, January 5, 2025.
No injuries were reported.
At approximately 4:11 a.m., watchstanders at the Coast Guard Arctic District Command Center in Juneau received a report that the fishing vessel Arctic Sea was taking on water and aground along the northern shoreline of St. George Island with nine people aboard.
A nearby fishing vessel, North Sea, was unable to safely assist the vessel due to on-scene weather conditions, which included 50-knot winds and 10-foot seas. However, the crew of the North Sea provided on-scene updates to Coast Guard watchstanders.
The crewmembers were transferred to emergency medical services (EMS) in St. Paul with no reported injuries.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak.
U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
Watchstanders directed the launch of an MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Forward Operating Location Cold Bay and an HC-130J Super Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak to respond.
Coast Guard Arctic District watchstanders also diverted Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Alex Haley (WMEC-39) to the area.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., the MH-60T Jayhawk MRR Helicopter aircrew arrived on scene, deployed the rescue swimmer and successfully hoisted all nine people from the vessel. The survivors were transported to awaiting emergency medical services (EMS) in St. Paul.
Resolve Marine has been contracted to oversee salvage operations of the grounded vessel.
“This case demonstrated the vital importance of maintaining proper emergency equipment,” said Capt. Vincent Jansen, Chief of Incident Management at the Arctic District. “The crew of the Arctic Sea had effective communication and survival equipment onboard allowing them to quickly alert the Coast Guard of their distress and pre-stage items for a potential evacuation. This emergency preparedness greatly increased their chances of survival. The Coast Guard Arctic District stands ready to respond to maritime crisis through superior preparation and response operations execution in the challenging and expansive Arctic environment.”
–USCG–
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