ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard is monitoring the transit of the fishing vessel Golden Fleece today to ensure they reach Kodiak safely. The vessel suffered a propulsion casualty and is in need of permanent repairs. The 92-foot Kodiak-based Mar del Norte is escorting them.
Lt. Jason Boyle, Petty Officer 2nd Class Allie Rodgers from Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak and commercial divers attended the fishing vessel Golden Fleece in Pasagshak Bay to assess the damage today.
Personnel at Coast Guard Sector Anchorage were notified at about 1 a.m. today that the Seattle-based 90-foot Golden Fleece began taking on water through a shaft seal. One of the vessel’s two shafts had sheared off and became dislodged from its normal position in the shaft tube. The vessel’s crew was able to keep up with the flow using a dewatering pump. The water was contained behind a water tight bulkhead.
The Mar del Norte and the Juneau-based 96-foot Mar Pacifico escorted the Golden Fleece to Pasagshak Bay. Temporary repairs were conducted that ceased the flow of water and the crew was able to dewater the vessel completely. Once anchored the Mar Pacifico came along side and offloaded 20,000 pounds of catch and six crew members.
The commercial divers were able to use chain falls to force the shaft back into the shaft tube, and secure the prop from freewheeling. The location of the shaft shear is not precisely known, but is within the hull of the vessel. One of two engines is operational.
Personnel from Kodiak are conducting an investigation into the casualty.
