Great-Pacific Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On October 27, 2025, the fishing vessel 'Great Pacific' found itself in dire straits as it drifted aimlessly about 100 miles south of Yakutat, Alaska, enduring tumultuous 30-foot seas after losing power. With five crew members aboard, the situation escalated, leading to their safe evacuation by the U.S. Coast Guard on October 29, thankfully without any injuries. The Coast Guard cutter 'John Witherspoon' was initially dispatched to assist, but complications arose when it suffered its own main engine failure near Kayak Island. This incident forced the cutter to release its towing wire, leaving the 'Great Pacific' stranded and adrift in the Gulf of Alaska for five harrowing days. During this critical time, the Marine Exchange of Alaska, based in Juneau, kept a vigilant watch on the vessel's movements, warning other maritime traffic of the potential hazard posed by the drifting trawler. An HC-130 Super Hercules crew from the US Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak conducted an overflight on November 1 to assess the situation. The fishing vessel came alarmingly close to running aground near Cape St. Elias before being spotted and rescued by the US-flagged tug 'Betty' (MMSI: 367159620). The 'Betty' expertly took the 'Great Pacific' in tow and guided it safely to Port Etches, situated between the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound, for further inspection. Preliminary assessments revealed that the 'Great Pacific' had experienced a broken drive shaft, necessitating an underwater evaluation to ascertain the vessel's seaworthiness. This incident underscores the importance of maritime safety measures in challenging weather conditions.