Crowley Crew Rescues Two in Hurricane

The crew of Crowley marine service tug Attentive recently came to the rescue of two sailors trapped in hurricane force winds aboard the 35 ft. sloop Adana in the Gulf of Alaska.

Adana crewmembers Mike Hunt and Marnee Allison were underway from Cordova to Yukatat when 75 to 100 mph winds and rough seas forced them to take cover in Port Etches on Hinchinbrook Island. Their sailboat had been dragging anchor and was in danger of running aground when they radioed the Attentive, on station nearby for crude oil tanker escort, to assist.

Attentive captain Jeff Stevenson alerted the U.S. Coast Guard of the situation, and as conditions worsened, Attentive and Adana crewmembers agreed the safest course of action was to abandon the Adana. The Attentive crew began making approaches to pass survival suits to the Adana crew. Then, in high winds and hard driving rain and snow, the tug crew passed a tether line and life ring to the Adana crew and began to haul them one at a time through the water and aboard the Attentive to safety. Following the rescue, Hunt and Allison were safely delivered to Valdez.

Captain Stevenson and Attentive crewmembers chief engineer Kinnie Chamberlin, chief mate Jim Graham, second mate Marcia Macone, A/B Robert Wolfe, A/B Mike Skrivaniac and cook Nancy Wise were later presented a commendation from the U.S. Coast Guard in recognition of the heroic rescue.