Hunt for Bodies of 9 Drowning Victims Halted

The Coast Guard today suspended its search for the bodies of nine men presumed drowned after their fishing trawler capsized and sank in the frigid Bering Sea.

Fishing vessels rescued 22 crew members who had abandoned the sinking ship on life boats. They were reported in good condition aboard a trawler that was taking them to Dutch Harbor, about 250 miles southeast of the accident site.

The nine, including a federal fisheries observer, were lost Thursday when the 162-foot Aleutian Enterprise sank, according to the Coast Guard, which said there was little chance their bodies would be found.

One of the men listed by the ship’s owners as presumed drowned was David J. Jefferies, 19, of Fontana, Calif.

“We had a very good search (Thursday),” Lt. Brian Flory said in Juneau. “We think we would have found anyone who was afloat.”

Several fishing vessels remained in the area to look for bodies.

The cause of the sinking was unknown. Weather was reported to be fair when the early afternoon accident occurred.

The Seattle-based ship sank about 60 miles south of the Pribilof Islands town of St. Paul, which is north of the Aleutian Islands chain and southwest of the Alaska mainland.

The survivors were transferred to the Bristol Enterprise, which is expected to arrive in Dutch Harbor late today.

From there they are to be flown home as soon as possible.