Kerry Egan Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Jul 23, 2024

Kerry

Egan

68

45

68 inches

150 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, 45-year-old Kerry Egan, a resident of Dillingham, Alaska, worked as the captain's mate aboard the F/V Arctic Rose. In an email to his brother just before his final voyage, he described the scene as being "like a bruise--gray and swelling--typical Bering Sea," a poignant foreshadowing of what was to come. On April 2, 2001, Kerry Egan and 14 other crew members disappeared when the 92-foot trawler sank approximately 200 miles northwest of St. Paul Island. The vessel went down without issuing a mayday call; the only alert came from an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) that activated automatically as the ship sank. The sinking of the Arctic Rose remains one of the most tragic commercial fishing accidents in recent American history. In the early morning hours, the U.S. Coast Guard received the EPIRB notification and launched a C-130 aircraft to begin a search. The weather was harsh, with winds gusting to 45 knots and seas swelling to over 20 feet. The Arctic Rose's sister ship, the Alaskan Rose, was fishing nearby and was the first to arrive on the scene after being contacted by the search plane. Rescuers found a debris field, an empty life raft, and several survival suits floating in the frigid water. The body of the ship's captain, David Rundall, was recovered, but he had not been able to fully get into his survival suit. Tragically, no other survivors were found. The extensive search effort was ultimately hampered by the severe weather and poor visibility. A U.S. Coast Guard investigation followed the disaster. Investigators located the wreckage of the Arctic Rose sitting upright on the ocean floor, under more than 400 feet of water. A remotely operated vehicle filmed the wreck, revealing that a watertight door on the processing deck had been left open. The investigation concluded that this open door likely allowed for rapid flooding in the rough seas, causing the vessel to sink in less than two minutes. Further inquiry revealed the ship had undergone significant structural changes without a naval architect evaluating the effects on its stability. The investigation also raised concerns about the inexperience of the crew, some of whom had little to no formal safety or survival training. The loss of Kerry Egan and the entire crew of the Arctic Rose was a devastating event that highlighted the inherent dangers of commercial fishing and led to a renewed focus on vessel safety regulations. The case serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced at sea and the suddenness with which tragedy can strike, leaving families to grieve for loved ones lost to the unforgiving waters.

Apr 02, 2001

Dillingham

Alaska

Dillingham Census Area

No

77377

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

010019662

2001-04-02

Alaska State Troopers

8717

Brown

Green

Green

07/04/2026