Into the Depths: The Tragic Disappearance of Seth Rousseau-Gano and the Scandies Rose Crew

A Fateful Voyage: The Scandies Rose Sets Sail

On December 30, 2019, the F/V Scandies Rose, a 130-foot steel crab fishing vessel based out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, departed into the Gulf of Alaska. Among the seven crew members aboard was 31-year-old Seth Alexander Rousseau-Gano, a seasoned fisherman from Washington state. The vessel was en route to the Bering Sea, carrying a load of crab pots, as part of the winter crabbing season. The crew faced a formidable journey, with forecasts predicting severe weather conditions, including 20-foot seas, 40 mph winds, and heavy freezing spray .

Disaster Strikes: The Sinking of the Scandies Rose

On the night of December 31, 2019, tragedy struck. The Scandies Rose encountered treacherous conditions near Sutwik Island, approximately 170 miles southwest of Kodiak Island. The vessel began to list heavily to the starboard side due to ice accumulation, a perilous situation that can destabilize even the most robust ships. A mayday call was issued around 10 p.m., signaling the dire circumstances the crew faced .

The Rescue Effort: A Race Against Time

In response to the distress call, the U.S. Coast Guard launched a comprehensive search and rescue operation. Despite the hazardous weather, rescue teams managed to locate and save two crew members, Dean Gribble Jr. and John Lawler, who were found in a life raft suffering from hypothermia . Gribble later recounted the harrowing experience, describing how the vessel sank rapidly, leaving little time for the crew to react. He and Lawler managed to don survival suits and reach a life raft, but the remaining crew members, including Seth Rousseau-Gano, were not as fortunate .

The Missing: Lives Lost at Sea

The five crew members who remained missing after the incident were identified as Captain Gary Cobban Jr., his son David Lee Cobban, Arthur Ganacias, Brock Rainey, and Seth Rousseau-Gano . The search for the missing crew spanned over 1,400 square miles and lasted more than 20 hours before being suspended due to the challenging conditions and diminishing hope for survival . The loss of these men sent shockwaves through the tight-knit fishing communities of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest....Read More

Share

Comments (0)

Leave A Comment