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Coast Guard rescues 4 from disabled fishing vessel 230 miles offshore Kodiak, Alaska

January 6, 2017

The fishing vessel Lady Gudny drifts unmanned in heavy seas after becoming dead in the water due to fuel problems 230 miles east-southeast of Kodiak, Alaska, Jan. 6, 2017. A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60T Jayhawk crew hoisted four people from the Lady Gudny. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard rescued four people from the disabled fishing vessel Lady Gudny in heavy seas 230 miles east-southeast of Kodiak, Friday.

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60T Jayhawk crew hoisted the four people from the Lady Gudny and transported them to Air Station Kodiak in good health. The Coast Guard Cutter SPAR, a 225-foot seagoing buoytender home ported in Kodiak, arrived on scene Friday morning. The SPAR prepared to bring the Lady Gudny into tow when the towline separated, causing the SPAR to become disabled.

Watchstanders at the 17th Coast Guard District Command Center received notification from Coast Guard Communications Detachment Kodiak at 1:43 a.m. Thursday that the Lady Gudny experienced fuel filter issues at sea. The four people aboard reported no health or medical concerns.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday the Lady Gudny became dead in the water 230 miles east of Kodiak after it exhausted the supply of fuel filters and were unable to run the engine. The owner of the Lady Gudny, Trident Seafoods, coordinated a delivery of 40 fuel filters to Air Station Kodiak for air drop to the SPAR.

"This case is a testament to the difficulties of operating in Alaska's extreme ocean environment," said Lt. Cmdr. Orion Bloom, chief, 17th District Command Center. "Our response benefitted from the early notification from the fishing vessel Lady Gudny that they were experiencing fuel filter difficulties."

The 17th Coast Guard District directed the launch of the Coast Guard Cutters Hickory and Douglas Munro, and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley to respond and provide assistance. The tug vessels Chahunta and Anna-T are also responding to assist.

Weather on scene was reported as 20 to 22-foot seas with 49-mph winds and 9 miles visibility.

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