An unusually large wave thwarted a fishing crew’s attempts to ride out heavy weather in the Bering Sea last year, according to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the incident. No fatalities or injuries were reported when the commercial fishing vessel Progress was severely damaged north of Unimak Island, Alaska on January 26. However, the vessel sustained $1.3 million in damage.
The incident occurred when a large wave struck the vessel’s wheelhouse. Several windows were damaged by the force of the wave, and seawater ruined navigational and other electrical equipment and knocked out the vessel’s electrical power.