Date: June 3, 2008
Contact: Public Affairs
(510) 816-0215

BOSTON -- The Boston portion of an investigation into the March 23, 2008, sinking of an Alaskan fishing vessel carrying 47 people will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday in the 8th floor courtroom of the John Foster Williams Coast Guard Building, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02110.

Forty-two people were saved after the fishing vessel Alaska Ranger sank in the Bering Sea 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The bodies of four fishermen were recovered. 

The Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the marine board of investigation. The members of the board include: Capt. Michael Rand, Coast Guard Headquarters, Cmdr. John Nadaeu, Coast Guard commanding officer of the marine safety unit in Wilmington, N.C., Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Hawkins, Coast Guard Headquarters, and Liam LaRue, NTSB.

All of the board members have extensive experience and training in marine safety, naval architecture and marine engineering.

Two witnesses are expected to testify Wednesday. Tom Quinn, of Bird Johnson Company, will testify concerning the controllable pitch propeller system. Herbert Roeser, of TRANS Marine, will testify concerning the enginering systems aboard the ship.

The hearing is open to the public and the media but the proceedings will not be broadcast on television, radio or conference call. Recording devices including still cameras and video cameras are prohibited for the duration of the hearing. Cell phones are prohibited at all times. An official transcript will be available after it is transcribed.  Only audio recording devices will be allowed to document the proceedings. 

Press releases will be sent out during the hearings notifying media of conference and interview schedules.

The following links will assist in providing historical and contemporary information regarding the investigation: Historical background for fishing vessel inspection process:

Historical background for fishing vessel inspection process:

http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/contentDetailView.do?BV_&contentType=EDITORIAL&contentId=99696

Congressional Hearing into Alaska Ranger:

http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetail.aspx?NewsID=572 

Alaska portion of Marine Investigation Board; USCG Press Releases:

MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION CONDUCTS SIXTH DAY OF INTERVIEWS IN DUTCH HARBOR - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/197077/

MARINE BOARD FINISHES TESTIMONY IN DUTCH HARBOR, TESTIMONY TO RESUME IN ANCHORAGE  - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/197419/

MARINE BOARD HEARS TESTIMONY IN ANCHORAGE - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/197593/

MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION HEARS FOURTH DAY OF TESTIMONY IN ALASKA RANGER CASUALTY - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/196763/

MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION BEGINS INTERVIEWING WITNESSES IN ALASKA RANGER CASUALTY - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/196559/

MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION HEARS THIRD DAY OF TESTIMONY IN ALASKA RANGER CASUALTY - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/196620/

MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION HEARS SECOND DAY OF TESTIMONY IN ALASKA RANGER CASUALTY - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/196589/

COAST GUARD, NTSB LAUNCH MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION FOR ALASKA RANGER CASUALTY - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/196333/

MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION INTO ALASKA RANGER TO CONVENE FRIDAY - http://uscgalaska.com/go/doc/780/196449/

For questions regarding the proceedings contact USCG Public Affairs at: 510-816-0215.

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