1981 — Nov 30, scallop trawler St. Patrick abandoned, toppled by wave, 5M E Marmot Isl., AK-10

–10 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1976-2000.”
–10 Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A–Z.” (S).
–10 Kodiak Daily Mirror, AK. “St. Patrick survivor recalls harrowing night.” 11-30-2018.
— 9 AK Bur. Ocean Energy Mgmt., Reg., Enforce. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses.

Narrative Information

Alaska Bureau Ocean Energy Management: “Dec 2, 1981…F/V [fishing vessel]…St. Patrick…Abandoned…5 mi W of Marmot Island, near Kodiak…9 lost.”

Alaskashipwreck.com: “1981…Saint Patrick…SC [south central area]…138 Foot…Steel Scallop Trawler…10 [lives lost]…2 [lived].” (Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1976-2000.”)

Alaskashipwreck.com: “Saint Patrick (1981). 10 crewmen were lost when the 138 foot steel diesel screw scallop fishing trawler Saint Patrick was abandoned November 30, 1981 five miles east of Marmot Island near Kodiak. The vessel had been laboring in heavy weather when she took a wave that laid her over and prompted the captain to order all to abandon ship. Only two of the 12 person crew survived. Lost were skipper Cornelius Green (37) of Hampton VA, mate James Jobe (23) of Norfolk VA, engineer Wilson Pair (28) of Hampton VA, deck boss Clifford Steigal (32) of South Bend WA, cook Vanessa Sandin (23) of Kodiak, Randal Ryker (21) of Springfield OR, deckhand Tom Kauppinen (20) of Norfolk VA, deckhand Charles Parlett (24) of West Point VA, deckhand Ronald Newton (23) of Lexington NE and deckhand Gary Todd Stallings of Live Oak FL [10 names]. The vessel was found to be substantially lacking in lifesaving gear and crew experience. Wallace R Thomas (23) of Saint Augustine FL and Robert Kidd (28) of Warwick RI were the only survivors. The two suffered from severe frostbite and hypothermia when rescued from frozen beaches more than a day after the disaster. The Saint Patrick was found damaged and adrift in outer Marmot Bay days later. She was towed to Womans Bay and subsequently sank.

“Mapping and Location: South Central Alaska 57 43 N 152 31 W Chart 16580.

“Additional Information: Tonnage 458 Gross 240 Net, Length 138.2, Breadth 27.2, Depth 13.8, Built 1948 at Bath ME, Former Name Saint Patrick French, Horsepower 750, SL WO5233, ON 293243.

“Sources: 1. Unofficial Shipwreck List (Kodiak), 2. BOEM Alaska Shipwreck List (2011), 3. Merchant Vessels of the U S (1978) Pg 1106, 4. The Greensboro Record (December 3, 1981) “Seven still missing from shipwreck” Pg C 14.” (Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A–Z.” (S).)

Dec 2: “By Paul Jenkins, Associated Press Writer.

“Anchorage (AP) – The search is expected to resume in the storm-tossed Gulf of Alaska Wednesday [Dec 2] for more survivors from the 138-foot scallop-fishing vessel St. Patrick, abandoned by its crew when it was smashed by a huge wave. The search was halted late Tuesday by rising winds and seas after two survivors were plucked from the beach of Afognak Island, north of Kodiak, aid Lt. Larry Hazel. Three unidentified bodies were recovered in the surf along Marmot Island. Two other bodies were spotted near Marmot Island, east of Afognak Island, by a Coast Guard helicopter. They were not recovered because of deteriorating weather, Hazel said.

“A Kodiak-based charter pilot sighted the battered St. Patrick on Monday [Nov 30], adrift in heavy seas near Izhut Bay. He said it was listing to starboard in heavy swells, with several lines hanging from its stern. An orange, canopied 10-man life boat bobbed in the sea nearby. It was empty, he said.

“One survivor, Wallace R. Thomas, was being treated in Kodiak, where hospital authorities listed his condition as fair. The second survivor, Robert Kidd, was aboard the cutter Confidence. His condition was unknown….

“Thomas told Coast Guard officials the St. Patrick’s 12-member crew was ordered to abandon the rust-brown and white vessel shortly before 1 a.m. Monday, after the huge wave swept the boat, Hazel said. The 458-ton vessel was located about five miles east of Marmot Island when the crew fled.

“It was not known whether all the crewmen left the vessel in lifeboats or were wearing survival suits when they went into the 34-degree water, Hazel said. ‘That part of the story is really sketchy,’ he said. ‘We still have people talking to the survivors.’

“The five bodies recovered were all clad in survival suits, Hazel said. It was not known if the survivors were wearing the suits.

“By late Tuesday, the St. Patrick had been taken in tow by the 68-foot tug Ruby 14. It was awaiting a break in the weather before returning to Kodiak.

“Fred Ball, co-owner of Air Transport Services Inc., said when he spotted the St. Patrick at midday Monday it was drifting a half-mile offshore, near Izhut Bay, on the southeast side of Afognak. ‘It was sitting sideways in the swells, It was rocking fairly violently,’ he said. ‘The seas were running at 10 to 15 feet.’….” (Daily Sentinel, Sitka, AK. “Coast Guard Searches Gulf For Fishing Boat Survivors.” 12-2-1981, p. 1.)

Sources

Alaska Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement. Alaska’s Worst All Time Shipping Losses. Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://www.boem.gov/about-boem/alaskas-worst-all-time-shipping-losses

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks 1976-2000.” Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/alaska-shipwrecks-1729-2012/alaska-shipwrecks-1971-1990/

Alaskashipwreck.com. Alaska Shipwrecks. “Alaska Shipwrecks A–Z.” (S). Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://alaskashipwreck.com/shipwrecks-a-z/alaska-shipwrecks-s/

Daily Sentinel, Sitka, AK. “Coast Guard Searches Gulf For Fishing Boat Survivors.” 12-2-1981, p. 1. Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-sitka-sentinel-dec-02-1981-p-1/

Kodiak Daily Mirror, AK. “St. Patrick survivor recalls harrowing night.” 11-30-2018. Accessed 12-1-2021 at: https://www.kodiakdailymirror.com/article_9a58079e-f4f1-11e8-8765-5b202c150f90.html