marine board report - Off Soundings

16732 F/V ARCTIC ROSE
September 2, 2003
From:
To:
Subj:
Marine Board of Investigation
Commandant (G-MOA)
UNINSPECTED FISHING VESSEL ARCTIC ROSE (ex TENACITY and SEA
POWER), O.N. D931446, SINKING IN THE BERING SEA WITH ONE PERSON
DECEASED AND FOURTEEN PERSONS MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. SUMMARY
On March 26, 2001, the fishing vessel ARCTIC ROSE, O.N. 931446 departed Dutch Harbor for
the Bering Sea fishing grounds near Zemchug Canyon. The vessel made several uneventful tows
on the Slime Banks and proceeded to St. Paul, Alaska to take on fuel oil and top off the potable
water tanks. On March 30, 2001 the vessel departed St. Paul for the Zemchug Canyon area to
fish the April 1 st flathead sole opening. They made several tows, securing fishing operations
during the evening. The ARCTIC ROSE sank between 2200 April 1, 2001 and 0335 April 2,
2001 (all times are Alaska Standard Time). The D17 CC received a 406MHz EPIRB alert at
0335, issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and sent an INMARSAT-C
message to all stations to alert other vessels. A Search and Rescue case was initiated and USCG
aircraft were sent to the EPIRB location. At 0840, a Coast Guard C-130 arrived on-scene and
located the vessel’s EBIRB at 58°56.9’N/175°56.3’W. A large debris field and oil sheen was
found in the vicinity. A nearby fishing vessel eventually responded to the UMIB and joined the
SAR efforts. Shortly after arriving on-scene, the F/V ALASKAN ROSE recovered the body of
David Rundall from the water. A subsequent search by Coast Guard aircraft, two cutters and two
samaritan fishing vessels in the immediate area failed to recover additional personnel. Fourteen
persons are missing at sea and presumed dead.
2. VESSEL PARTICULARS:
Name:
ARCTIC ROSE (ex TENACITY and SEA
POWER)
Official Number: 931446
Service:
Document Endorsements:
Fishing
Coastwise, Fishery, Registry
Gross/Net/ITC Tonnage: 199/135/231
Registered Length:
Registered Breadth:
92.6 Feet
24.5 Feet
1