JUNEAU, Alaska—A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew assisted the crew of a fishing vessel taking on water 60 miles southeast of Kodiak, Friday.
The Jayhawk lowered a dewatering pump to the crew of the fishing vessel St. Nicholas, which allowed them to control the on board flooding and proceed to port in Kodiak.
Coast Guard watchstanders received the report of the vessel taking on water from the St. Nicholas’ crew Friday morning. The crew initially managed the situation but requested Coast Guard assistance once their pumps could no longer keep up with the flooding.
“The capability of our aircrews to transport dewatering pumps to vessels at sea can often prevent a small problem from turning into a life-or-death situation; it’s always good for a mariner to be proactive and not wait until last minute to notify the Coast Guard,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Lindsey Green, a watchstander in the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center. “Our priority is the safety of life at sea, and that can mean giving mariners the tools they need to save themselves.”
Watchstanders are remaining in contact with the St. Nicholas crew as they return to Kodiak.
