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FISHING COMPANY OF ALASKA - ALASKA RANGER SINKS IN BERING SEA
Posted by: James Beard
March 24, 2008
Topic: Vessel Crashes and Collisions
Four crewmen have died and one is missing in the Bering Sea following the sinking of the ALASKA RANGER in the Bering Sea Marach 23, 2008. The 180 foot Alaska Ranger is a factory trawler owned by the Fishing Company of Alaska. The vessel developed rudder problems and began taking on water around 3:00 a.m., forcing the vessel's crew to abandon ship in survival suits and life rafts. The Coast Guard reports that 42 crewmen have been rescued, 13 of which were found in survival suits in 8-10 foots seas streching over a one mile area; other crewmen were successfully able to get into the ALASKA RANGER's life rafts. The accident happened approximately 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Working as a commercial fisherman in Alaska's Bering Sea remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Despite recent previous fishing boat sinkings such as the Aleutian Enterprise, Arctic Rose, and Galaxy, there are few safety regulations governing commercial fishing boats.
It is anticipated that the United States Coast Guard will conduct a Casualty Investigation into the Alaska Ranger's sinking. Litigation for crewmen injured or killed in past Alaska fishing vessel sinkings has been contentious with the owners of the vessels utilizing the Death On The High Seas Act and a century old Federal Maritime statute called the Limitation of Liability Act to attempt to limit a crewman's right to compensation for injuries and death. Crewmen suffering injuries and deaths in accidents such the sinking of the Alaska Ranger have claims under the Jones Act, a Federal Maritime law providing compensation to workers who are injured or die as a result of the negligence of their employer.
