Ocean-Rover Vessel Reviews and Specifications

The crew aboard the 'Ocean Rover', which docked in Unalaska on the afternoon of June 14, has tested negative for COVID-19, easing concerns among local residents. This vessel’s entry marks the beginning of the summer pollock fishing season. Recent weeks had seen alarm grow as over 100 asymptomatic crew members on three other factory trawlers from the same parent company reported positive COVID-19 tests. Key organizations collaborated to ensure the safe arrival of the 'Ocean Rover'. This included Iliuliuk Family and Health Services, the City of Unalaska (which encompasses the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services), the Port of Dutch Harbor, the Department of Public Safety, as well as the state's Department of Health & Social Services, and American Seafoods. Together, they coordinated a comprehensive response to the arrival of the vessel and its crew. All 121 crew members completed health questionnaires and were tested for COVID-19 where necessary, resulting in an effective health protocol. Notably, 16 crew members displayed potential COVID-19 symptoms and were placed in quarantine while awaiting their test results. Fortunately, all results returned negative. The 'Ocean Rover', having departed from Bellingham, Washington on May 29, replenished its frozen product supply in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor and is set to return to sea shortly. The recent spread of the virus had impacted three vessels within its six-vessel fleet, including the 'American Dynasty' with 92 positive cases, four positive cases on the 'American Triumph', and 21 reported on the 'Northern Jaeger'. Until last week, American Seafoods implemented a five-day quarantine period for crew, which fell short of the two-week incubation period noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a response to the recent health crisis, the company upgraded its safety protocols on June 5. It announced a transition from a five-day to a full 14-day quarantine, aligning with stringent state and federal health guidelines to better protect the crews and their operations in Alaska.

Crew members aboard the 'Ocean Rover', a fishing vessel en route to Alaska, are expressing growing apprehension following the decision by Seattle-based American Seafoods to discontinue additional COVID-19 testing. This choice has arisen in the wake of recent alarming test results revealing COVID-19 positive cases among crews from three other company vessels unloading their frozen fish catch in Bellingham. The 'American Destiny' reported 94 positive cases, while the 'American Triumph' and 'Northern Jaeger' recorded four and 21 cases, respectively. These findings have sent ripples through the North Pacific seafood industry, which is working diligently to keep COVID-19 from infiltrating ships and shore facilities as the summer harvest season approaches. In response to the escalating situation, American Seafoods announced plans to intensify efforts to maintain a COVID-free environment on its factory trawlers. The company will transition from a five-day preboarding testing and quarantine protocol to a more stringent two-week quarantine for crews. The 'Ocean Rover' had recently completed a spring fishing season targeting Pacific whiting off the Northwest coast and was subjected to a shorter quarantine that proved inadequate, similar to the other vessels with positive cases. Discontent has emerged among crew members and their families regarding the company's decision to skip a scheduled June port stop in Bellingham for screening. Many are concerned that, like others who tested positive with no prior symptoms, some of their crew might unknowingly harbor the virus. On June 11, 2020, American Seafoods issued a statement asserting that after a month at sea, the crew aboard the 'Ocean Rover' showed no signs of COVID-related illness. The vessel made its port call at Dutch Harbor on June 15 and is set to fish for pollock. As for the fifth vessel that fished off the coast of Washington, no decision has been made regarding its immediate course to Alaska. Erin Reinders, city manager of Unalaska, indicated that ongoing monitoring of the situation is taking place, and it seems American Seafoods is meeting the Alaska requirements for fishing vessels due to the extended isolation of the 'Ocean Rover' crew at sea. American Seafoods' factory trawlers typically offload frozen whiting products at Bellingham Cold Storage. On June 1, in collaboration with the Whatcom County Department of Health, the Coast Guard, and other agencies, specific COVID-19 protocols were established that must be adhered to by ships seeking to dock at the facility. These protocols necessitate a report on current crew health, which is subject to evaluation by county health officials.

On March 4, 2019, the United States Coast Guard conducted a critical medevac operation for a crewman aboard the fishing vessel 'Ocean Rover', located approximately 65 miles northwest of Cold Bay. The emergency request was relayed to watchstanders at the Coast Guard 17th District Command Center in Juneau around 11 p.m. on March 3, following an injury sustained by a 57-year-old male crew member to his finger. After assessing the situation, the Coast Guard duty flight surgeon approved the medevac. At the time of the emergency, the Coast Guard Cutter 'John Midgett' was positioned roughly 35 miles southeast of the 'Ocean Rover', equipped with a helicopter crew ready for action. The MH-65 Dolphin helicopter responded swiftly, hoisting the injured man from the vessel under challenging on-scene conditions characterized by winds of 20-30 mph and rough seas of 6-8 feet. Once safely airlifted, the crewman was flown to Cold Bay, where he was transferred to the care of a Guardian Flight team. They subsequently transported him to the Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage for further medical attention. This operation underscores the Coast Guard's commitment to maritime safety and rapid response in emergencies.