Multimedia Release: Coast Guard rescues Northern Belle crew from Gulf of Alaska

KODIAK, Alaska - Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Sippel and Petty Officer 3rd Class Kara Pardee, both of Air Station Kodiak, drop liferafts and other rescue gear from the back of a Kodiak-based HC-130 Hercules aircraft to the four crewmen of the Seattle-based fishing vessel Northern Belle April 20, 2010 who were later hoisted by the crew of a Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and taken to Cordova.

The crew of the 75-foot Seattle-based fishing vessel issued a mayday call when their vessel became stricken 50 miles south of Montague Island in the Gulf of Alaska.

U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

KODIAK, Alaska - Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Sippel and Petty Officer 3rd Class Kara Pardee, both of Air Station Kodiak, drop liferafts and other rescue gear from the back of a Kodiak-based HC-130 Hercules aircraft to the four crewmen of the Seattle-based fishing vessel Northern Belle April 20, 2010.

The crew of the 75-foot Seattle-based fishing vessel issued a mayday call at about 5:30 p.m. when their vessel became stricken 50 miles south of Montague Island in the Gulf of Alaska.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

KODIAK, Alaska - Two crewman from the sunken 75-foot Seattle-based Northern Belle huddle together in anti-exposure suits aboard debris from the vessel 50 miles south of Montague Island in the Gulf of Alaska April 20, 2010. 

Coast Guard aircrews aboard an HC-130 Hercules aircraft and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Kodiak as well as the crew of the Valdez-based Coast Guard Cutter Long Island responded to the Northern Belle's mayday call.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Sara Francis.

KODIAK, Alaska - The crew of a Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter prepares to rescue one of four crewman from the fishing vessel Northern Belle who managed to climb into a liferaft dropped by the crew of an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak 50 miles south of Monatgue Island in the Gulf of Alaska April 20, 2010.

The Northern Belle crew issued a mayday call and abandoned the 75-foot Seattle-based vessel into the chilly waters of the Gulf of Alaska shortly after 5:30 p.m.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

KODIAK, Alaska - The crew of a Kodiak-based MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter recovers the rescue swimmer after successfully rescuing four Northern Belle crewman from a liferaft dropped by the crew of an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak, the debris field and the water 50 miles south of Monatgue Island in the Gulf of Alaska April 20, 2010.

The Northern Belle crew issued a mayday call and abandoned the 75-foot Seattle-based vessel into the chilly waters of the Gulf of Alaska shortly after 5:30 p.m.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.

KODIAK, Alaska - The crew of the 110-foot Valdez-based Coast Guard Cutter Long Island power through surf en route to the scene of the Northern Belle sinking to assist in the rescue of four crewman who abandoned their sinking vessel April 20, 2010.

The crew was about 40 miles away at the time of the call and was diverted to respond to the mayday call taking them 50 miles south of Montague Island in the Gulf of Alaska.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.