Crew of fishing vessel receives Coast Guard’s highest public service award

March 18, 2004

SEATTLE ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚Â¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“ The captain and the crew of the fishing vessel Stormy Sea were awarded the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award today for their heroic rescue of three people from the Bering Sea in 2002.

Timothy M. Vincent, master of the fishing vessel Stormy Sea and resident of Stanwood, Wash., accepted the award from Rear Admiral Jeffrey Garrett, Commander Thirteenth Coast Guard District, today at the Jackson Federal Building here.

Vincent, William Edwards and Ken Peterson risked their lives to rescue the three crewman who had abandoned their fishing vessel Rocket II in the Bering Sea near Dutch Harbor, Alaska about 900 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska, Oct 21, 2002.

The Rocket II had an engine casualty and was being pushed toward breaking surf and a rocky shore. As the crew of the Rocket II struggled to keep it from being thrown into the surf and rocks, Jeb Morrow of the Rocket II radioed for assistance.

The Stormy Sea and two larger processing vessels responded to the call. While they were en route to the distressed boat’s position, heavy seas and wind ripped the life raft that contained two dry suits and several flares from the deck of the Rocket II. The high winds and seas were quickly pushing the Rocket II into the jagged Alaskan coast were rocks and 20-foot surf would ultimately destroy the boat. The crew of the Rocket II abandoned ship with only one dry-suit among the three crewmen before their vessel drifted into the surf zone.

Vincent determined that his crew was the best suited to attempt the rescue of the three men because the other processor vessels were much larger, carried more people and had deeper drafts. Vincent knew he had little time before the crew of the Rocket II either succumbed to hypothermia or was pushed into the surf zone and crushed. He maneuvered his vessel into 20-foot seas and 40-knot winds so the crew of the Stormy Sea could pull the three men from the water.

The Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service Award is the Coast Guard’s highest public service recognition.

Crew of fishing vessel receives Coast Guard’s highest public service award

The Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service Award is the Coast Guard’s highest public service recognition.

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