Salvage Plans Underway After Grounding of F/V American Way

Jay Barrett/KMXT

Two men from Chignik, Jim Brewer and Jay Kingsley, intentionally grounded the 38-foot fishing vessel "American Way" on Aghiyuk Island Sunday afternoon after their engine failed and the ship began to ice up. They were on their way from Kodiak to Chignik. Aghiyuk Island is about 200 miles southwest of Kodiak and 60 miles east of Chignik.

The men set off their EPIRB, and it was received by the Coast Guard in Juneau at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon. At 3:41, Brewer called the Coast Guard on his satellite phone and reported that he and Kingsley had taken an inflatable the 100-feet to shore and had built a fire to stay warm.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Kodiak responded, found the two men, and had them hoisted aboard by 6:30 p.m. They were flown to Chignik.

Brewer then contacted the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Detachment in Kodiak to make arrangements to salvage the "American Way." He has contracted Magone Marine of Dutch Harbor to conduct the salvage. Its ship, the "Redeemer," should be on Aghiyuk Island in a couple of days.

The Coast Guard is conducting an investigation into the grounding. No injuries or pollution have been reported. Approximately 600 gallons of diesel remains in the fuel tank and about 200 gallons stored in drums on deck.

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