On February 14, 1985, a sense of unease settled over the fishing community of Kodiak, Alaska, as a 42-year-old male crewman named Ray Basel, along with four other men, vanished into the unforgiving waters of the Shelikof Strait. Basel was aboard the F/V Alert, an 83-foot fishing vessel, that was reported missing while navigating the treacherous passage between Uganik Bay and Alitak Bay. The last that was heard from the vessel, it was battling heavy sea ice and heading towards the relative shelter of Bumble Bay. Also on board were Shawn Heaney, 24; Melvin Wick, 41; Paul Rowe, 18; and Sveinn Adalsteinsson.
The disappearance of the F/V Alert triggered an extensive search and rescue operation, as authorities and fellow fishermen scoured the icy waters for any sign of the vessel or its crew. The weather conditions at the time of the disappearance were perilous, with reports of a rapid increase in wind and wave height, accompanied by a significant drop in temperature. This sudden and violent shift in weather likely contributed to the vessel's distress. Despite the intensive search efforts, no debris from the boat was ever found, and tragically, none of the five men, including Ray Basel, were ever seen again. The complete absence of any wreckage has left the families of the missing men with an agonizing lack of closure.
The case of Ray Basel and the crew of the F/V Alert remains a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those who make their living on the sea. The Alaska State Troopers investigated the disappearance, but without any physical evidence, the case has remained unsolved. The names of Ray Basel, Shawn Heaney, Melvin Wick, Paul Rowe, and Sveinn Adalsteinsson are etched into the long and sorrowful history of maritime losses in Alaska. Their story is one of countless others that speak to the power and unpredictability of the Alaskan waters, and the profound and lasting impact on the communities that depend on them. The disappearance of the F/V Alert is a cold case that continues to resonate within the close-knit community of Kodiak, a permanent and painful void left in the hearts of the families who lost their loved ones to the unforgiving sea.
Last Seen: Feb 14, 1985
