A fishing boat capsized in heavy weather early Sunday morning off Point Couverden, Alaska, near Hoonah with an estimated five people aboard, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. While rescue workers and locals continued to search through Monday, none have been found.
Weather conditions in the area are hostile: heavy snow, winds up to 45-60 mph, and 6-foot seas.
The 50-foot vessel, Wind Walker, issued a mayday call around 12:10 a.m. on Dec. 1 reporting the boat was overturning. Coast Guard personnel attempted to gather more information, but received no further response.
Based on reports from people familiar with the vessel, the Coast Guard says it’s believed five people were on board at the time, but they cannot be certain. The Coast Guard says seven empty cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights were found in the search area — a grim sign.
“This number [of people on board] has not been confirmed and is subject to change pending new information,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “Coast Guard watchstanders also received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert that was registered to the vessel originating just south of Point Couverden in Icy Strait.
“Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Juneau to search the area.”
The ferry vessel AMHA Hubbard was the first to hear the mayday broadcast and arrived on the scene to assist before anyone else.
On Sunday, posts on social media began circulating saying some crewmembers had been found, but officials said none of those reports were confirmed. The agency said it is “aware of reports on social media claiming individuals from this incident have been located. At this time, the [Coast Guard] has not confirmed these claims and is continuing search efforts.”
Petty Officer John Hightower told Alaska’s News Source that search crews were using Coast Guard Cutter Healy − the largest and most technologically advanced polar icebreaker in the U.S. − as their main search platform.
