Shawn Bouchard Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Jul 23, 2024

Shawn

Bouchard

48

25

77 inches

225 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, a tragedy unfolded in the early morning hours of April 2, 2001, that left an indelible mark on the maritime community. Among the lives lost was that of 25-year-old Shawn Michael Bouchard from Montana. He was one of fifteen crew members aboard the fishing vessel Arctic Rose, which vanished 205 miles northwest of St. Paul Island, Alaska. The 92-foot trawler, owned by Arctic Sole Seafoods of Lynnwood, Washington, was harvesting rock sole when it succumbed to the turbulent sea. The vessel sent out an emergency signal before it disappeared, but by the time help arrived, it was too late. The loss of the Arctic Rose and its entire crew stands as one of the most devastating fishing disasters in recent American history. The sinking of the Arctic Rose was sudden and catastrophic, leaving no survivors and scant evidence to immediately explain the cause. No mayday call was ever received from the vessel. The only initial alert was an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) signal. The weather at the time was treacherous, with 45-knot winds and 24-foot waves battering the region. The search and rescue effort that followed was hampered by the severe conditions. While an empty life raft, some survival suits, and an oil sheen were discovered, the only crew member ever recovered was the ship's captain. Shawn Bouchard, along with thirteen other crewmen, was lost to the sea. The vessel itself was later located on the ocean floor, but the full story of its final moments would take years to piece together through investigation. A United States Coast Guard investigation into the sinking of the Arctic Rose revealed a confluence of factors that likely contributed to the disaster. The investigation concluded that the vessel sank in less than two minutes due to progressive down-flooding. A key finding pointed to a watertight door on the processing deck being left open, allowing the rough seas to inundate the vessel. Further scrutiny of the Arctic Rose's history revealed that it had undergone significant structural changes without a new stability analysis being performed. There were also allegations that the crew was inexperienced and had not received adequate training. While the official conclusion centered on the open door, some, including an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, have questioned this finding, suggesting a possible gash in the hull could have been the primary cause. This lingering uncertainty adds another layer of sorrow to an already heartbreaking event. The loss of Shawn Bouchard and his fellow crewmen serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers of the fishing industry and the profound impact such tragedies have on families and communities left to grapple with their loss.

Apr 02, 2001

Dillingham

Alaska

Dillingham Census Area

No

77786

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

8722

Brown

Blue

Blue

06/28/2026