ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Forty-six people who were on board a Seattle-based ship that began to sink in Alaska's Aleutian Islands are on their way back to shore.
Newly released video released by the Coast Guard shows their rescue by two nearby Good Samaritan ships Tuesday afternoon as the Alaska Juris took on water. No injuries were reported and fishermen are now on a 13-hour voyage back to land.
Preliminary information indicates that a mechanical failure led to the boat's problems.
The 220-foot Alaska Juris is owned by the Fishing Company of Alaska that's based in Seattle. It's unclear where all the fishermen live.
The fiancée, daughter and father of one of the deckhands on board are still waiting for call, but they know he's safe. Aaron has worked on Juris for 10 years.
The following are updates of the rescue as they unfolded Tuesday:
9 p.m.
Officials say two Good Samaritan vessels have rescued 46 people who abandoned a fishing boat in Alaska's Aleutian Islands.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Lauren Steenson says there were no reports of any injuries as the crew members were transferred from life rafts to the vessels in a fairly calm Bering Sea.
She says the ships then embarked on a 13-hour voyage to Adak, Alaska, a port in the Aleutians.
The Good Samaritan ships Spar Canis and the Vienna Express rushed to the scene as did two other merchant vessels, all responding to a Coast Guard's emergency broadcast for help.
When the 220-foot Alaska Juris started taking on water Tuesday morning, all crew members donned survival suits and got into three rafts.
The trouble occurred about 690 miles west of Dutch Harbor, one of the nation's busiest fishing ports.
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5:05 p.m.
A second Good Samaritan vessel has arrived to help rescue 46 people who abandoned a fishing boat in Alaska's Aleutian Islands.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Lauren Steenson says the plan is to have the 46 crew members transfer to the two vessels, and then they will be taken to a port.
The names of the two Good Samaritan ships are the Spar Canis and the Vienna Express.
The crew of the 220-foot Alaska Juris donned survival suits and got into three rafts after the fishing vessel started taking on water Tuesday morning about 690 miles west of Dutch Harbor, one of the nation's busiest fishing ports.
There have been no reported injuries to the 46 crew members, and the Coast Guard will investigate.
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4:55 p.m.
Forty-six people have abandoned a sinking fishing vessel in Alaska's Aleutian Islands The Coast Guard says all 46 donned survival suits Tuesday and were awaiting rescue in three life rafts.
The Coast Guard says a Good Samaritan vessel was on scene, and Petty Officer Kelly Parker said the plan is for all 46 crew members to board the Spar Canis.
A Coast Guard spokesman said the crew members were off the 220-foot fishing vessel Alaska Juris, which was taking on water Tuesday morning. The ship is sinking near Kiska Island, about 690 miles west of Dutch Harbor, one of the nation's busiest fishing ports.
Two others civilian ships and a Coast Guard cutter were en route. The Coast Guard is also sending two helicopters, and it has a military transport plane in the vicinity.
