Coast Guard Rescues Crew From Sinking Ship

The Alaska Coast Guard rescued five Anchorage residents after from their 60-foot Kodiak based pleasure craft, "Nordic Mistress", began to sink about 85 miles north of Kodiak.

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By KTVA CBS 11

Story Created: May 22, 2011 at 6:21 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 23, 2011 at 10:08 AM AKDT

The Alaska Coast Guard rescued five Anchorage residents from their 60-foot, Kodiak-based craft Nordic Mistress after it began to sink about 85 miles north of Kodiak.

The crew of the Nordic Mistress sent a mayday call a little before noon Sunday over the VHF marine radio. A Coast Guard helicopter found the five survivors in a life raft surrounded by debris in the water.

"The ability of the persons aboard being able to put on survival suits and enter a life raft could have been the difference between life and death in this situation," said Sector Search and Rescue controller Steven Garcia.

Garcia went on to say that, "By using the onboard VHF marine radio to call for help and by properly using their safety gear, the five people took the necessary steps to ensure their safety and to help the Coast Guard quickly come to their rescue."

The five crew members from the Nordic Mistress, whose names have not been released yet, were flown into Kodiak; their status is unknown at this point. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

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