Alaska fishing boat sinks with 47 crew

UPDATED: 9:54 pm

The Coast Guard has rescued 42 of 47 crewmembers from a fishing boat that sunk 120 miles from Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Four crew members from the F/V Alaska Ranger died Sunday and one is still missing after the catcher processor sunk in 6-to-8 foot seas with about 25 knot winds.

The captain reported rudder problems before the abandon ship order was given.

The Fishing Company of Alaska are the owners of the ship. They've identified the victims as Capt. Eric Peter Jacobsen, chief engineer Daniel Cook, mate David Silveira and crewman Byron Carrillo.

AUDIO: Mayday call from the Alaska Ranger to the Coast Guard.

From a Coast Guard press release:

The Coast Guard and fishing vessel Alaska Warrior have recovered 46 of 47 crewmembers from the fishing vessel Alaska Ranger 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor. Four crewmembers are reported deceased and one missing.

"Saving 42 people in Bering Sea in the winter is an incredible accomplishment," said Commander Todd Trimpert, Chief Incident Management 17th Coast Guard District and experienced Alaska rescue pilot, "we were very fortunate to have the Alaska Warrior in the area."

Crews from an H-60 Jayhawk helicopter from St. Paul, H-65 Dolphin helicopter deployed aboard CGC Munro, C-130 Hercules airplane from Air Station Kodiak and CGC Munro from Kodiak rescued 20 crewmembers in 10-foot seas and 25-knot winds seas while the fishing vessel Alaska Warrior rescued 22.

"When we got on scene there was a spread, at least a mile long, of 13 survivors in gumby suits with strobe lights," said Aviation Survival Technician 2nd Class O'Brien Hollow, Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, "I went down without disconnecting from the helicopter and picked them up one at a time."

A second C-130 from Kodiak, the CGC Munro and an H-60 from St. Paul are searching for the missing crewmember. Alaska Ranger crewmembers will be taken to Dutch Harbor.

The Alaska Ranger has been confirmed sunk. The names of the deceased are not being released pending next of kin notification.

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Coast Guard video of the search for survivors