Harry Bellard Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Harry

Bellard

50

White / Caucasian

Male

On September 23, 1989, a then 50-year-old man named Harry Lee Bellard vanished in the waters off the coast of Cordova, Alaska. His disappearance is officially linked to the sinking of the M/V Steadfast, a 37-foot wooden tanker tug. The vessel was participating in the extensive cleanup efforts following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which had occurred earlier that same year. The M/V Steadfast was towing a large, empty barge when it was caught in a severe gale in the Gulf of Alaska. The location of the incident was northwest of the southern tip of Kayak Island, a position roughly 60 miles southeast of Cordova. The dire situation aboard the M/V Steadfast prompted a distress call from the crew at approximately 8:40 p.m. They reported that the vessel was taking on water and that they were preparing to abandon ship. It is understood that the three crew members on board had access to survival suits and a life raft. However, the hostile marine environment proved overwhelming. Subsequent search and rescue operations were only able to locate a damaged life raft and a single survival suit floating between Hinchinbrook and Kayak islands. There was no sign of Harry Bellard or the other two crew members. The Alaska State Troopers are the investigating agency for Bellard's missing person case. The aftermath of the M/V Steadfast's sinking left a painful void and a degree of uncertainty. While official records connect Harry Bellard to this tragic maritime event, some online maritime casualty lists have not consistently included his name among the deceased. One such list does identify another of the three victims. This discrepancy, coupled with the unforgiving nature of the sea, has left lingering questions. The sinking of the M/V Steadfast serves as a somber reminder of the perilous conditions faced by those who worked tirelessly in the wake of one of the nation's most significant environmental disasters. The case remains a poignant account of lives lost to the formidable power of the Alaskan waters.

Sep 23, 1989

Cordova

Alaska

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07/19/2026