In the late winter of 1989, a young man named Daniel Scott Tullar, aged 26, was in Kodiak, Alaska. On March 3rd of that year, he was aboard the fishing vessel Ocean Hope II. The boat, a 108-foot steel longliner, was navigating the treacherous waters of the Shelikof Strait, a body of water known for its challenging conditions. Daniel, along with three other crew members, was contending with heavy weather and seeking refuge in Portage Bay. The last communication from the vessel was on the night of March 2nd, as they headed for shelter.
The Ocean Hope II and its entire crew vanished. An extensive search was launched, but tragically, the only piece of the vessel ever recovered was a life ring. Daniel Tullar, along with the skipper, 33-year-old Jack White of Kodiak, 26-year-old Dennis Frye of Kodiak, and 27-year-old Michael Wheeler of Anacortes, Washington, were all declared missing. The men are presumed to have perished in a boating accident, lost to the unforgiving seas of the Shelikof Strait.
The disappearance of the Ocean Hope II and its crew serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the waters of Alaska. The case is a heartbreaking one, leaving families and a community to grapple with the sudden and permanent loss of four men. With no survivors and minimal wreckage found, the precise details of what happened in the vessel's final hours remain unknown. The incident is a significant event in Alaska's maritime history, underscoring the immense power of the ocean and the inherent risks of commercial fishing in the region. The loss of Daniel Tullar and his fellow crewmen is a profound tragedy that continues to be remembered by those who knew them and the wider maritime community.
Last Seen: Mar 3, 1989
