Coast Guard Monitors Disabled Vessel

Casey Kelly/KMXT

The Coast Guard is monitoring the transit of the fishing vessel Golden Fleece today to ensure they reach Kodiak safely, after the Seattle-based boat’s propulsion system broke down early this morning (Thursday).

The 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 watertight bulkhead. One of the vessel’s two engines is currently working.

The Kodiak-based fishing vessel Mar del Norte and the Juneau-based 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 crewmembers.

The Mar del Norte is assisting the Golden Fleece with its transit back to Kodiak.

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