Cutter Morgenthau File Photo
KODIAK, Alaska – A Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak rescued five fishermen from the disabled and adrift 58-foot long-liner TerriGail in 50 mph winds and 10 foot seas about two miles from Unalaska Tuesday and transferred them to the Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau.
The crew of the 378-foot cutter received the initial mayday call via VHF radio at 4:04 a.m. from the TerriGail crew reporting a marine casualty and that they were about 40 miles from Unalaska. The Coast Guard 17th District command center diverted the Morgenthau which was about 10 miles away and requested the assistance of the tug Redeemer located in Dutch Harbor.
The Morgenthau arrived on scene about 8:30 a.m. to monitor the situation while the TerriGail crew tried to make any repairs. After the TerriGail crew determined the casualty couldn’t be fixed the cutter prepared for towing the fishing vessel, however, was unable to connect thieir tow line to the adrift vessel.
The Kodiak-based TerriGail is currently within one mile of Makushin Bay on Unalaska without power or propulsion and is expected to go aground around 3 p.m. The vessel reportedly has 800 gallons of diesel fuel on board. Coast Guard personnel are making preparations to deploy to Makushin Bay as needed. Weather on scene is expected to worsen during the next six to eight hours.
The cutter Morgenthau is homeported in Alameda, Calif. The rescue helicopter is forward-deployed aboard the cutter from Air Station Kodiak.
