1 Dead, 54 Fishermen Missing off Chukotka

The Coast Guard Alaska Sector is assisting the Kamchatka Border Guard Directorate and good Samaritans in their search for survivors of the South Korean flagged 326-foot fishing vessel, 501 Oryong, that sank off the coast of Chukotka, Russia, in the Bering Sea, Sunday evening, November 30.

The Kamchatka Border Guard Directorate reported the 501 Oryong was hauling in its catch when a wave hit and flooded the boat’s storage chambers with seawater.
The Kamchatka Border Guard Directorate reported the vessel was carrying 62 crewmembers at the time of the sinking; seven crewmembers in a raft were rescued by a good Samaritan, 54 crewmembers are unaccounted for and one crewmember has been confirmed deceased.

The Coast Guard Cutter Munro is a 378-foot high endurance cutter homeported in Kodiak. Weather on scene is reported as half-mile visibility with a 250-foot ceiling, 22-foot waves and water temperature at 57 degrees.

A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Munro with an embarked Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter were dispatched to the scene Monday morning.

“Our ultimate goal is protecting life at sea whether at home or internationally, which is why we are working closely with the Kamchatka Border Guard Directorate to find survivors,” said Capt. Diane Durham, chief of response, Coast Guard 17th District. “There are also five good Samaritan vessels on scene that are assisting in the search for survivors; their commitment to helping is commendable.”

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans medevaced four people from a vessel fire 35 miles southwest of Grand Isle, Monday, December 1.

Watchstanders received the report from the offshore supply vessel Dustin Santos at 7 a.m. local time, of a vessel fire and four people in a life raft. The Dustin Santos recovered the four people from the life raft and transferred them to a nearby offshore platform in ship shoal block 154.

Sector New Orleans issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed two Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews to respond to the incident. The helicopter crews transported the four people to Baton Rouge General Hospital and to West Jefferson Medical Center.
The current condition of the four people is unknown.

Press Release