A fishing charter boat was found partially submerged off an island in southeast Alaska in May, with five people dead, including two vacationing sisters and their partners. The U.S. Coast Guard investigated the incident and found that the vessel, Awakin, likely capsized after its well deck flooded in rough seas. The Coast Guard held a town hall-style presentation in Sitka to discuss their findings, revealing that the boat was not required to carry an emergency raft and had minimal provisions for draining water from the well deck. The lead investigator, Cmdr. Nate Menefee, stated that the casualty was initiated by a sudden flooding of the well deck by a large swell, exacerbated by the vessel’s positioning near Low Island in shallow water.
The Coast Guard’s investigation revealed that the navigation of Awakin near Low Island was a major factor in the incident, as it increased the likelihood of encountering large swells and breaking surf. Menefee explained that the vessel’s stability was significantly impacted by the flooding of the well deck and limited drainage openings. While there is uncertainty surrounding the final minutes of the trip, the Coast Guard could not definitively determine the exact cause of the capsize, as there were no witnesses or distress calls received. The boat’s tracking system recorded its last known location just south of Low Island, and a passenger trapped in the cabin attempted multiple unsuccessful emergency calls before the boat capsized.
At 2:43 p.m. on May 28, the last known location of the boat was recorded, and one of the passengers trapped in the cabin made several unsuccessful attempts to make emergency calls between 3:01 and 3:12 p.m. A text message found in the phone’s draft messages folder read “Call 911” but was unsent. The Coast Guard was alerted to the boat being overdue around 5:30 p.m., and a helicopter was launched at 6:55 p.m. The bodies of those who died in the incident, including the charter guide and two sets of partners, were recovered and determined to have drowned. The Coast Guard faced challenges with launching a helicopter in a timely manner due to fueling issues on the day of the incident.
The victims of the boat capsize included charter guide Morgan Robidou, Brandi Tyau, Robert Solis, Danielle Agcaoili, and Maury Agcaoili. Autopsies determined that drowning was the cause of death for the four whose bodies were recovered. The tragic incident shed light on the importance of safety measures and emergency preparedness on fishing charter boats, as well as the potential dangers of navigating in hazardous areas with limited stability. The Coast Guard’s investigation and findings provided valuable insights into the circumstances surrounding the capsizing of the Awakin and served as a reminder of the risks associated with maritime activities in rough seas. The town hall-style presentation in Sitka allowed for community members to learn more about the incident and the Coast Guard’s efforts to determine the cause of the tragedy.
