Five missing after fishing boat capsizes near Couverden Point, Alaska

The US Coast Guard and Good Samaritans are searching for five people from a fishing boat that reportedly capsized near Couverden Point, Alaska, on Sunday, December 1.

Coast Guard watchstanders have received reports from individuals familiar with those aboard the vessel that indicate there were five people aboard. This number has not been confirmed and is subject to change pending new information.

At 00:10 local time on Sunday, Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders received a mayday call on VHF channel 16 from the crew aboard the 50-foot (15-metre) fishing vessel Wind Walker reporting they were overturning. The watchstanders attempted to gather additional information but received no response.

The watchstanders also received an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) alert that was registered to the vessel originating just south of Point Couverden in Icy Strait.

Sector Southeast Alaska watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka and a Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Juneau to search the area.

The crew of the Ro-Pax ferry Hubbard overheard the broadcast and offered to assist, arriving on scene first.

The coast guard said seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights have been located in the water in the search area. Local weather conditions consist of heavy snow, winds up to 39 to 52 knots, and six-foot (two-metre) seas.