The Coast Guard rescued four crewmen Thursday from a fishing vessel that ran aground near Dutch Harbor.
Although no injuries were reported, incidents like this are often serious and need detailed investigation by seasoned maritime injury attorneys to determine if there is cause for the crew to claim damages.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Cutter Bertholf hoisted all four survivors from a rock near the grounded fishing vessel Endurance, approximately one mile west of Egg Island, near the entrance to Beaver Inlet, Unalaska. They were flown to Dutch Harbor and placed in the care of awaiting EMS with no injuries reported at the time of transfer.
The Endurance reported at 10:57 p.m. Wednesday that they had run aground, were severely listing, and taking on water. The helicopter crew arrived on scene just after midnight to find all four survivors huddled on a rock with the tide coming in. They had escaped the grounded vessel on a skiff. All four were wearing life jackets. Captain Timothy Brown, Bertholf’s commanding officer said “Thankfully, these mariners were well-prepared for an emergency, and took the proper actions in time to notify the Coast Guard and get off the vessel. We were very fortunate to be close by and able to arrive on scene quickly.” The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the grounding, as well as monitoring the grounded vessel.
This crew was lucky to escape. If rescue had not been in time they could have been drowned by the rising tide or suffered exposure overnight. Incidents need to be investigated for compliance with the laws of the sea and for mariners to be awarded compensation.