KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Good Samaritan vessels help the Coast Guard dewater the F/V Divalu south of Cordova Monday. Photo Air Station Kodiak
A Kodiak based Jayhawk helicopter crew and two Good Samaritan vessels came to the rescue of a fishing boat near Cordova on Monday, as the Copper River salmon fishery got underway.
The 32-foot fishing vessel Divalu began taking on water Monday afternoon in the Copper River Flats 22 miles south of Cordova.
Coast Guard received a mayday call on VHF radio at 4:48 p.m. from skipper Leo Americus of the fishing vessel Divalu.
The Coast Guard immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast requesting nearby boaters to assist if possible. Two responded to the request for help, the fishing vessel Alpine and an unidentified boat.
Meanwhile the Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that is normally based at Air Station Kodiak, but is forward deployed to Cordova for the summer fisheries.
The Jayhawk arrived on scene at roughly 5:35 p.m. to find 22 mph winds and six foot seas. The crew lowered a rescue swimmer and a dewatering pump and was able to control the flooding and pump out the Divalu.
The Divalu sailed to Cordova under its own power, escorted by the helicopter and the two Good Samaritans.
The Coast Guard says no pollution or injuries were reported from this incident.
