In the unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, 39-year-old John Mckerley was a fisherman aboard the crabber vessel, the Lin J. On March 18, 1999, while approximately eight miles northwest of St. Paul Island, a distress call was never made. The 96-foot Lin J, along with its entire crew, vanished into the frigid Alaskan waters. The vessel, based out of Dillingham, Alaska, was lost to the sea, leaving behind a wake of unanswered questions and grieving families. The unforgiving conditions of the Bering Sea are a known peril to even the most seasoned fishermen, and on that day, it claimed the lives of John Mckerley and his four crewmates.
The circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Lin J point to a harrowing battle against the elements. It is believed that the vessel capsized and sank due to heavy sea icing. This phenomenon occurs when freezing spray from the ocean accumulates on a vessel's superstructure, adding immense weight and dangerously affecting its stability. The added weight can make a vessel top-heavy and prone to capsizing, especially in rough seas. The crew of the Lin J, including John Mckerley, Jason Conlon, Aaron Miller-Moylan, Marc Hill, and the captain, Blake Kinnear, were all lost in the incident.
Following the disappearance of the Lin J, search and rescue efforts were likely hampered by the same severe weather conditions that led to the vessel's demise. In the vast and tumultuous Bering Sea, finding any sign of the vessel or its crew would have been a monumental task. Ultimately, John Mckerley and the rest of the crew were presumed to have drowned. The loss of the Lin J serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those who make their living on the sea. The case of John Mckerley is one of a man who went to work and never returned, his life claimed by the powerful and unpredictable forces of nature in one of the world's most dangerous professions.
Last Seen: Mar 18, 1999
