4 Dead, 1 Missing After Fishing Trawler Sinks in Bering Sea

By Aaron Poehler

Published on March 24, 2008

Just before 3 a.m. on Sunday, the Seattle-based Alaska Ranger lost control of its rudder and began taking on water about 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island, in the Aleutian Islands.

Initial rescue efforts saved the lives of 42 crew members. Search efforts to locate one remaining crew member continue today. A Coast Guard spokesman indicated that one person fell into the sea from a rescue basket that was being lifted by helicopter during the rescue effort, but they were not certain whether this person was the missing crew member.

The Fishing Company of Alaska identified the dead as captain Eric Peter Jacobsen, chief engineer Daniel Cook, mate David Silveira, and crewman Byron Carrillo. The name of the missing crew member has not been released.

The emergency response manager for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation indicated that the 184-foot vessel had been carrying about 145,000 gallons of diesel fuel at the time it sank. Coast Guard spokesmen stated cleanup efforts were unlikely, due to strong winds in the area.

The Fishing Company of Alaska, which owns of the sunken vessel, stated that the causes of the accident remain undetermined. A Coast Guard investigation into the incident is currently underway.

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