KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
Update 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Coast Guard has suspended search for missing crew members from Scandies Rose on Wednesday evening.
The Coast Guard continues its search for five crewmen missing since the Dutch Harbor based crabber Scandies Rose sank near Sutwik Island, off the Alaska Peninsula Tuesday night.
The vessel sank around 10 p.m. with seven crew members aboard. Two were able to make it into a life raft and were hoisted to safety by an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.
Coast Guard District 17 spokesperson Melissa McKenzie said the two survivors were taken to Providence Kodiak Island Hospital, where they are in stable condition, according to a report by public radio KUCB in Unalaska.
Hospital personnel were unauthorized to confirm that to KMXT on Monday night.
“From what I understand,” said the Coast Guard’s McKenzie, “when our helicopter crew arrived on scene, they found two life rafts in the search area. One had two survivors [in it] and the other one was empty,” she said.
The Scandies Rose was able to get a mayday message off on 4125 Khz, which was picked up by watchstanders at the Kodiak Communications Detachment.
Watchstanders immediately notified the Coast Guard Command Center, which initiated the launching of rescue aircraft from Air Station Kodiak.
In addition to the helicopter and an HC-130 airplane, the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, which was on patrol in the Bering Sea, was diverted to the area. It was due to arrive on scene on Wednesday night.
The last known position of the Scandies Rose was approximately 170 miles southwest of Kodiak.
“We are conducting an extensive search in a 300-square mile area to locate the five missing persons from the Scandies Rose,” said Lt. Wade Arnold, command duty officer at 17th District Command Center in a statement released Wednesday morning.
The Coast Guard reported the weather on scene as winds in excess of 40 mph, 15 to 20 foot seas, and one mile visibility.
We had help with this story from Hope McKenny at KUCB in Unalaska.
