After suffering a mechanical failure on Friday, the factory trawler Alaska Victory was successfully towed into Captains Bay this weekend.
According to the Coast Guard, the 205-foot fishing vessel experienced trouble with its reduction gear on Friday morning. The Alaska Victory was 17 nautical miles north of Akutan at the time, and it began drifting at a speed of about one knot an hour. A Magone Marine Service tug responded to the situation, and was able to bring the vessel to Unalaska on Saturday. The Alaska Victory ultimately moored at the OSI Dock on Sunday after offloading its catch.
Fishermen heading out tomorrow for the opening of the Bristol Bay red king crab season may not do it again for a few years. The quota was cut by 47 percent this year, down to 7.8 million pounds. And some crabbers, like Dewey Hostetler of the Bering Star, are already anticipating the fishery could be closed next season.
“After seeing the reduction this year over last and seeing what the survey says, it’s a very realistic possibility that we don’t have one next year. For sure, that wouldn’t surprise me one bit. I’d be surprised if we did have one, personally.”
A Fishing Company of Alaska vessel is currently adrift in the Bering Sea.
The Coast Guard received a report of a mechanical failure aboard the 205-foot Alaska Victory early this morning. At the time of the call, the factory trawler was about 17 nautical miles north of Akutan Island, and drifting at a speed of one knot per hour.
According to Petty Officer David Mosley, the Coast Guard is monitoring the situation and Magone Marines Services has sent the tug Double Eagle out to meet the Alaska Victory. He adds that the vessel isn’t at risk of running aground at the moment.
Rat eradication efforts started last Wednesday on the stateless drift-netter Bangun Perkasa and as of Tuesday night 14 rodents had been captured. Unalaska Assistant City Manager John Fulton briefed City Council on the process.
“Twelve of the rats were frozen and brought back to Unalaska for analysis, to identify species and verify that they weren’t carrying anything."
According to Fulton, the total number of rats is less than expected.
The main business at Council meeting last night was certifying the election results. Zoya Johnson won the only contested race of the election.
The newly elected officials will be sworn in during the next Council meeting on October 25th.
Mayor Shirley Marquardt gave a brief update on the recent lobbying trip she and several Council members took to Washington, D.C. While in the nation’s capital they met with Alaska’s congressional delegation and senior officials from the Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers.
It might be easier to get flights in and out of Unalaska starting in December.
ACE Air Cargo is adding scheduled passenger flights to and from Anchorage on its Beechcraft 1900 Model C. The plane will hold up to nine passengers each way, and they’re planning on having anywhere between one and four flights a day.
Sherrie Pugh, who does fleet support for Fishing Company of Alaska, says the extra capacity is a relief.
A 31-year-old man was arrested this Saturday after allegedly attacking a woman at a processing facility.
According to court documents, Abubakar Jeylani of Washington followed a woman into a restroom at the Unisea processing plant and attempted to coerce her into performing a sexual act. The alleged victim refused him and tried to exit the restroom, at which point Jeylani allegedly grabbed her. She then began yelling for help, and two women heard her call and came to the restroom.
Tonight, city council will gather to receive a report from the canvassing committee and certify the municipal election results. Zoya Johnson beat incumbent Katherine McGlashan by 8 percentage points in the only contested race of the election.
Council will also recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month after a flag ceremony by the Scouts.
There is only one item on the Consent Agenda. Council will consider a resolution that would confirm Erin Williamson Reinders appointment to the Iliuliuk Clinic Board.
