Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Seventeenth District

Date: Aug. 21, 2006
Contact: Petty Officer Thomas McKenzie
Telephone No.: (907) 463-2065 

Coast Guard searches for missing crewman

JUNEAU, Alaska - The Coast Guard is searching today for a crewman missing in the Cordova waters south of Point Whitshea, southeast of Hawkins Island in Prince William Sound. 

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Valdez received a report of an uncorrelated Mayday at 10:22 p.m. Sunday night. It was relayed by a crewmember aboard the fishing vessel Lady Blackie who overheard the call on VHF channel 72. The Mayday call possibly originated from the fishing vessel Bodysnatcher, a 26-foot bow picker working in the area.

An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued and an HH-60 rescue helicopter and crew were launched from Cordova. When the helicopter arrived on scene, weather conditions had deteriorated to such an extent that searching was impossible. The helicopter was forced to return to base.

The helicopter and crew were deployed again at first light today and this time located the Bodysnatcher. The vessel was on it's side in the mudflats, partially burned with no one on board.

Two survival suits were found in the area. The Coast Guard is adjusting it's search patterns to account for this.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Cordova is attempting to engage one of their small boats in the search, as are several Good Samaritans in the area.

The Coast Guard cutter Liberty is also enroute from Valdez to assist.

Weather conditions are misty with two miles of visibility, and winds at seven knots.

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