VALDEZ, Alaska – Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Valdez personnel continue to monitor response efforts to the grouding and sinking of the 36-foot fishing vessel Ice Maiden Tuesday as the vessel's seine net was retrieved and no longer poses a threat to marine life or other boaters.

The 124-foot trawler Gladiator was contracted by the owner’s insurance underwriters to retrieve the net. Due to the favorable weather conditions Monday, the Gladiator and crew were able to remove the Ice Maiden’s seine net that had been floating between the sunken vessel and the surface since the vessel sank July 3.

R and R diving also had three vessels on scene to mitigate pollution during net recovery operations. An intermittent sheen remains in the vicinity of the sunken vessel. The Coast Guard will continue to monitor for pollution.

The Ice Maiden capsized at approximately 1 p.m. July 3 while retrieving a net full of salmon. All four of the crewmembers were able to evacuate to the vessel’s seine skiff prior to the capsizing. The good Samaritan fishing vessels New Venture and Aquanator were fishing in the area and provided assistance, including transportation to Cordova, for the crew of the Seward-based Ice Maiden.

The cause of the vessel capsizing and the equipment failure during salvage operation are under investigation.