All language subtitles for Disasters.at.Sea.S01E05.Shipwrecked.in.Alaska.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

A 190-FOOT FISHING TRAWLER

IS GOING DOWN IN THE FREEZING
WATERS OF THE BERING SEA.

EVERYBODY UP. NOW! NOW!

ABANDON SHIP!

47 CREWMEMBERS
ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.

WE WERE ALL SCARED.
I WAS SCARED.

I DID HAVE
A CONVERSATION WITH GOD.

OKAY, I'M JUST GONNA JUMP
IN THE BERING SEA.

IT TRIGGERS ONE OF
THE MOST DARING RESCUE MISSIONS

IN COAST GUARD HISTORY.

WE KNEW THAT THERE WAS
MORE PEOPLE IN THE WATER

THAN WE COULD RESCUE.

IT WAS TOO FAR OUT THERE.

BUT IN THIS FRIGID
AND UNFORGIVING SEA,

CAN THEY GET THERE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE?

HOW MANY PEOPLE
ARE GONNA DIE?

NOT EVERYBODY WAS COMING HOME.

-ABANDON SHIP!
-AH!

GO!

EASTER WEEKEND
ON THE BERING SEA.

THE 190-FOOT FISHING TRAWLER
ALASKA RANGER

IS MAKING HER WAY THROUGH
FREEZING WIND AND HIGH WAVES.

THE SHIP AND HER CREW OF 47
ARE ON A 500-MILE VOYAGE

FROM DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA,

TO SOME OF THE RICHEST
FISHING GROUNDS IN THE WORLD--

THE PETREL BANK.

THE LONG TRIP OUT GIVES LITTLE
HINT OF THE DANGERS AHEAD.

SHIP'S COOK ERIC HAYNES

WORKED ON THE ALASKA RANGER
FOR 14 YEARS.

HE KNOWS JUST
HOW BAD IT CAN GET.

THANKS, ERIC, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT YOU.

IT'S PRETTY WILD
AND WOOLLY SOMETIMES,

AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN
THAT WEATHER'S GONNA KICK UP

AND WHEN IT'S GONNA COME.

ABOUT HALF THE TIME WHAT THEY
TELL YOU IT'S GONNA DO,

IT DOES JUST THE OPPOSITE.

BESIDES THE WEATHER,
THE WORK IS DANGEROUS.

BERING SEA FISHERMEN HAVE AMONG
THE HIGHEST MORTALITY RATES

OF ANY JOB IN THE COUNTRY.

UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN UP THERE

AND YOU TRY TO EXPLAIN
WHAT IT'S LIKE,

TO GET UP AND WORK
IN 20- OR 30-FOOT SEAS,

AND DO THAT FOR TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE DAYS STRAIGHT...

I'VE SEEN ARMY RANGERS
COME UP THERE AND BREAK.

THEY, THEY CAN'T HANDLE IT.

HEY, HOW ARE YA?

CAN'T COMPLAIN...YET.

HAVE A GOOD SLEEP.

YEAH, THANKS.

RYAN SHUCK HAS BEEN
THE TALLYMAN ON BOARD

FOR THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS.

HE'S THE ONE WHO KEEPS
COUNT OF THE FISH.

WE WORK TWELVE ON,
SIX OFF,

SO OUT OF 24 HOURS YOU ARE
LITERALLY WORKING 18 OF THEM.

IT'S COLD. IT'S WET.
IT SMELLS LIKE FISH.

SOMETIMES IT SMELLS
LIKE ROTTEN, CRAPPY FISH.

PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THE MONEY
OR THEY SEE ON TV,

LIKE, THEY WENT OUT FOR,
YOU KNOW, 14 OR 15 DAYS,

EACH PERSON MADE, YOU KNOW,
$36,000 OR WHATEVER.

THEY SOMETIMES FAIL TO HEAR

WHAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO
TO OBTAIN THAT MONEY.

THE JOURNEY
TO THE FISHING GROUNDS

SHOULD TAKE TWO DAYS.

FOR THE CREW,
IT'S THEIR LAST CHANCE TO REST

BEFORE THE HEAVY WORK BEGINS.

AT THE END OF HIS WATCH,
CAPTAIN PETE JACOBSON

IS RELIEVED BY
FIRST MATE DAVID SILVEIRA.

DAVID.

CAPTAIN.
ANYTHING I SHOULD KNOW?

AH, NOT MUCH.

GOT A 20-KNOT WIND,
GUSTING TO 27.

OTHER THAN THAT,
I'M REALLY TIRED.

YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

HAVE A GOOD WATCH.

AS THE FIRST MATE
KEEPS WATCH FROM THE BRIDGE,

ENGINEER RODNEY LUNDY MONITORS
THE SHIP'S ENGINES BELOW DECK.

WALKED AROUND, YOU KNOW,

CHECKING TEMPERATURES
AND GAUGES,

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST,
JUST CHECKING EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING IS QUIET UNTIL...

IT WAS TWO O'CLOCK
WHEN I HEARD THE ALARM GO OFF

FOR A HIGH BILGE
IN THE RUDDER ROOM.

THESE RUDDERS ALWAYS LEAKED
A LITTLE BIT OF WATER,

SO I JUST THOUGHT
IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM, YOU KNOW,

EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL.

I GO BACK TO THE RUDDER ROOM;

ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S
JUST WATER JUST GUSHING.

I HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME
TO CLOSE THAT WATERTIGHT DOOR.

FIRST THING I DID
WAS CALLED THE BRIDGE...

...AND TALKED TO DAVID SILVEIRA.

WHEELHOUSE.

DAVE! IT'S ROD.

WE'VE GOT MAJOR FLOODING
IN THE RUDDER ROOM!

YOU NEED TO SOUND GENERAL ALARM

AND HEAD TOWARD
THE CLOSEST LAND.

PETE, WHAT'S GOING ON?

ERIC HAYNES
RUSHES TO THE BRIDGE;

IS THIS A DRILL OR IS IT REAL?

WE'RE TAKING ON WATER.

GET EVERYBODY
INTO THEIR SUITS. NOW!

EVERYBODY UP!
NOW! NOW! NOW! EVERYBODY UP!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

GET UP! EVERYBODY UP!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL,
EVERYBODY UP!

YOU KNOW, I JUST STARTED
GOING THROUGH ROOMS.

BECAUSE WE'VE HAD TIMES
WHERE THE ALARM HAS GONE OFF

AND NOT EVERYBODY RESPONDS.

NOW! WAKE UP! GET UP!

UP! UP! UP!
COME ON, GET UP!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

EVERYBODY TO THE BRIDGE
RIGHT NOW!

AS THE CREW
HEADS TO THE BRIDGE,

LUNDY AND A FELLOW ENGINEER
CHECK TO SEE IF THE FLOODING

HAS SPREAD TO OTHER PARTS
OF THE SHIP.

THE RAMP ROOM,

WHICH IS THE COMPARTMENT
RIGHT ABOVE THE RUDDER ROOM,

HAD THREE 480-VOLT TRANSFORMERS,

DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICITY
THROUGHOUT THE BOAT.

I KNEW AS SOON AS THOSE
TRANSFORMERS GOT FULL OF WATER

IT WAS GONNA SHORT OUT
AND LOSE POWER.

IF THE TRANSFORMERS GO,

THE POWER STEERING GOES, AND
THEY LOSE CONTROL OF THE SHIP.

THEN I HEAR
THIS SCREECH...

YOU KNOW, LIKE METAL TEARING...

AND THEN WATER
STARTED RUSHING UP.

NO, NO, NO, NO!

WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!

THE FLOODING
HAS SPREAD UP TO THE RAMP ROOM

WITH SHOCKING SPEED.

LUNDY HAS MANAGED
TO SHUT THE DOOR,

BUT NOW THERE'S NO WAY
TO STOP THE RISING WATER

FROM REACHING THE TRANSFORMERS.

I HAD
THE WATER CONTAINED,

BUT YOU COULDN'T PUMP IT OUT
EVEN IF YOU HAD THE PUMP

BECAUSE IT'S BEHIND
WATERTIGHT DOORS.

BRIDGE.
IT'S THE CAPTAIN.

PETE, IT'S ROD.

THE WATER'S IN THE RAMP ROOM
NOW, AND IT'S FLOODING FAST.

WE'RE GONNA LOSE POWER SOON.

EVEN MORE TERRIFYING,

LUNDY KNOWS THE FLOODING
CAN'T BE STOPPED.

I SAID, "I CAN'T CLOSE
THAT STARBOARD VENT COVER.

IF THE WATER REACHES THAT LEVEL,

IT'S GONNA FLOOD
THE ENGINE ROOM.

WE'RE GONNA GO STARBOARD HARD,
AND WE'RE GONNA SINK."

SEND THE MAYDAY
TO THE COAST GUARD.

ROD, GET IN YOUR SUIT.
YOU GET UP HERE NOW!

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

THIS IS ALASKA RANGER.

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

THIS IS ALASKA RANGER.

KODIAK STATION.
GO AHEAD, RANGER.

THE DISTRESS CALL
IS RECEIVED

BY THE COAST GUARD STATION
IN KODIAK, ALASKA,

730 MILES AWAY.

WE'RE TAKING ON WATER.

WE'RE ABOUT 130 MILES WEST
OF DUTCH HARBOR.

WHAT POSITION?

5-3 DEGREES,
5-3 MINUTES NORTH.

1-6-8 DEGREES,
5-8 MINUTES WEST.

RESCUE DIVERS
ARE DISPATCHED IMMEDIATELY

IN TWO HELICOPTERS--

ONE FROM LAND AND ONE FROM SEA.

BUT IT WILL TAKE THEM
AT LEAST TWO HOURS TO GET THERE.

IF THE CREW MEMBERS
HAVE TO ABANDON SHIP,

HOW WILL THEY SURVIVE
IN THIS BITTER, UNFORGIVING SEA?

CHIN UP.

EVERYBODY WAS IN THE WHEELHOUSE
TRYING TO PUT ON THEIR SUIT,

SO IT WAS KIND OF CHAOS.

OKAY, I GOT YOU.

WE WERE ALL SCARED, YOU KNOW,
I WAS SCARED.

A SURVIVAL SUIT
CAN INCREASE THE CHANCES

OF REMAINING ALIVE
IN THE ICY WATERS

FROM MERE MINUTES
TO OVER FIVE HOURS...

IF IT FITS.

YEAH.
I JUST NEED A SMALLER SUIT.

THIS ONE'S TOO BIG.

YOU CAN'T WEAR YOUR SHOES
OR BOOTS OR WHATEVER

IN A SURVIVAL SUIT,
OR YOUR HOODIE.

UM, 'CAUSE THE HOOD
WILL MAKE IT NOT WORK RIGHT.

ERIC HAYNES, HE WAS KIND OF
OUR VOICE FROM THE CAPTAIN.

OKAY, YOU'RE GOOD.
THAT WORKS.

HE TOLD US THE
COAST GUARD KNOWS WE'RE HERE.

IS EVERYBODY OKAY?
DOES EVERYBODY HAVE A SUIT?

YEAH.
YEAH, YEAH.

AT THAT POINT WE THOUGHT

WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE
TO STAY AFLOAT,

WE'RE NOT GONNA SINK,

JUST HAVE TO WAIT IT OUT,

AND THE COAST GUARD
ARE GONNA GET HERE.

BUT THE ALASKA RANGER
IS OUT OF TIME.

THE TRANSFORMERS
SHORTED OUT.

THE BOAT WENT BLACK.

EVERYTHING
JUST KIND OF GOT QUIET.

YOU COULD HEAR THINGS
POPPING AND PINGING.

IT SOUNDED LIKE MAYBE PARTS
WERE BLOWING THROUGH THE DECK.

SOME BATTERY LIGHTS KICKED ON.

THE BOAT JUST SHIFTED.

THE ALASKA RANGER
BEGINS LISTING

TO THE STARBOARD SIDE,
AND HER STERN IS SINKING FAST.

IT FELT LIKE
IT WAS GONNA ROLL OVER.

ABANDON SHIP!

ABANDON SHIP!

LET'S GO!

AND THEN THERE WAS SOME PANIC.

THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INSIDE
STARTING RUNNING OUTSIDE.

THE WHOLE BACK DECK
WAS UNDER THE WATER.

LAUNCH THE RAFTS!

THE CREW STRUGGLES
TO ABANDON SHIP

IN THE HIGH WIND AND WAVES.

NOTHING GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN.

SO WE LAUNCHED THE RAFT,
BUT IT JUST KEPT GOING ON OUT.

I GRAB THE PAINTER LINE,
TRIED TO PULL IT BACK.

AND THEN IT JUST BROKE AWAY,
IT WAS JUST GONE.

"LET'S GET GOING, GUYS," I SAID,

"YOU'RE GOING IN,
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER."

IN THESE FREEZING TEMPERATURES

THEY CAN ONLY HOPE TO SURVIVE
TILL THE COAST GUARD ARRIVES.

IT'S HARD TO GET UP
ENOUGH COURAGE TO BE LIKE,

"OKAY, I'M JUST GONNA JUMP
IN THE BERING SEA."

AND I HIT THE WATER,
AND EIGHT, NINE GALLONS OF WATER

JUST CAME RUSHING IN THAT SUIT.

IT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY.

SHUCK'S SUIT IS TOO BIG,

AND IT'S FILLING WITH WATER.

HIS SITUATION IS DESPERATE.

I COULD SEE THE RAFT.

IT WAS COMING RIGHT TOWARDS ME.

IT WAS COMING FAST.

IT HIT ME, BLAM,
RIGHT IN THE FACE.

AND THEN IT SUCKED ME UNDERNEATH.

IT FINALLY SPIT ME OUT.

THEN I SEEN THE BACKSIDE
OF THE RAFT GOING AWAY FROM ME.

THE RAFT IS GONE.

SO I WAS KIND OF THINKING,
"I'M SCREWED."

AS SHUCK STRUGGLES
IN THE WATER,

LUNDY'S TROUBLES START
BEFORE HE'S EVEN JUMPED IN.

I SEEN A BUNCH OF LIGHTS
BOBBING UP AND DOWN,

WHICH WERE GUYS FLOATING
IN THEIR SUITS.

I GRABBED MY LANYARD
ON MY LIGHT, PULL IT.

MY LIGHT DOESN'T WORK.

I KNEW THEN THAT IF I DIDN'T
GET IN A LIFE RAFT,

THAT THEY WASN'T GONNA FIND ME.

SO I JUST TOOK MY GLASSES OFF

AND THREW THEM
IN THE BERING SEA,

'CAUSE I WASN'T EXPECTING
TO EVER USE THEM AGAIN.

ALASKA RANGER REARS UP
INTO HER FINAL DEATH THROES.

THE BOAT WAS LIKE THIS.

I DIDN'T JUMP OVER, I FELL.

ALASKA RANGER IS GONE.

SOMEHOW ERIC HAYNES
AND A HANDFUL OF OTHERS

HAVE MADE IT TO RAFTS.

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
"HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA DIE?"

NOT EVERYBODY WAS COMING HOME.

ROD LUNDY, RYAN SHUCK

AND THE REST
OF THE SHIP'S 47 CREW

ARE SCATTERED ACROSS
THE FRIGID, STORM-TOSSED SEAS.

HOW MANY CAN HOLD OUT
UNTIL HELP ARRIVES?

EASTER SUNDAY, 2008.

THE FISHING VESSEL ALASKA RANGER
HAS DISAPPEARED

INTO THE COLD, WINDSWEPT WATERS
OF THE BERING SEA.

LESS THAN HALF OF HER 47 CREW
HAVE MADE IT INTO LIFE RAFTS.

THE REST ARE SCATTERED
IN THE FREEZING OCEAN.

RYAN SHUCK'S
TOO-BIG SURVIVAL SUIT

IS SUPPOSED TO BE
KEEPING HIM ALIVE,

BUT IT'S FILLING WITH WATER.

DEADLY HYPOTHERMIA
IS SETTING IN.

IT'S LIKE A COLD
LIKE I'VE NEVER BEEN.

MY HANDS WERE SO COLD
I COULDN'T FEEL THEM.

MY FEET WERE SO COLD
I COULDN'T FEEL--

PROBABLY FROM LIKE
THE KNEES DOWN I WAS JUST NUMB.

NOW, I KIND OF KEPT
KEEPING UP HOPE,

AND KEEPING UP HOPE, YOU KNOW,

"THEY'LL BE HERE ANYTIME,
THEY'LL BE HERE ANYTIME."

THE CLOSEST
OF TWO COAST GUARD HELICOPTERS

IS STILL MORE THAN
30 MINUTES AWAY.

RESCUE SWIMMER ABRAM HELLER

KNOWS THE LONGER SOMEONE
IS IN THE WATER,

THE LESS LIKELY
THEY'LL BE FOUND ALIVE.

120 MILES FROM LAND,

THE WATER TEMPERATURE WAS
JUST A SMIDGE ABOVE FREEZING.

WE ASSUME THAT SOMEBODY
HAS ABOUT TWO HOURS

IN A SURVIVAL SUIT
IN THOSE CONDITIONS.

WITH 47 PEOPLE IN THE WATER,

THE COAST GUARD FACES ONE
OF THE BIGGEST AIRBORNE RESCUES

IN ITS HISTORY.

I THINK
EVERYBODY'S MENTALITY IS

WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST WE CAN

AND WE'RE PROBABLY NOT
GONNA GET EVERYBODY,

BUT IT WAS TOO FAR OUT THERE,
SO TIME WAS A HUGE ISSUE.

FROM HIS LIFE RAFT

HAYNES CAN SEE HIS CREWMATES
IN THE WATER.

BUT WHAT CAN HE DO TO HELP?

I WOULD JUST LOOK OUT
AT WHATEV--

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
THAT WERE OUT THERE

SO THAT WE COULD GET ANYBODY
THAT WAS CLOSE BY.

IN A LIFE RAFT,
YOU CAN SURVIVE FOR DAYS.

IN THE WATER, YOU'RE ONLY GONNA
SURVIVE FOR A FEW HOURS.

IN THE WATER,
THE SITUATION IS DESPERATE.

LIKE SHUCK,
LUNDY'S BADLY FITTING SUIT

IS FILLING WITH WATER.

WORSE, HIS STROBE LIGHT IS
BROKEN, SO NO ONE CAN SEE HIM.

IT WAS JUST
COMPLETE BLACKNESS.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GOING
UP OR DOWN OR SIDEWAYS,

YOU KNOW, VERY DISORIENTED,

AND THEN I SEEN THE LIFE RAFT,

AND IT WAS COMING
STRAIGHT AT ME.

AND MY SUIT WAS FULL OF WATER,

SO I COULDN'T PULL MYSELF UP
INTO THIS THING.

BUT, UH, GOD WAS LOOKING OUT
FOR ME THAT NIGHT.

THESE TWO GUYS REACHED DOWN

AND PULLED ME INSIDE
THAT LIFE RAFT,

AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'D NEVER
BEEN MORE HAPPY IN MY LIFE.

FOR ABOUT AN HOUR,
WE KEPT YELLING.

AND WE DID REALIZE
AT THAT POINT

PROBABLY NOBODY ELSE WAS GOING
TO COME, THEY WERE TOO FAR OFF.

AFTER NEARLY TWO HOURS
IN THE WATER,

RYAN SHUCK IS STARTING
TO LOSE HIS BATTLE

AGAINST EXHAUSTION
AND HYPOTHERMIA.

I WAS JUST FLOATING
AROUND THERE ALONE,

AND AFTER A WHILE IT KIND OF
JUST GOT, IT GOT TOO HARD.

IT GOT PHYSICALLY
REALLY PAINFUL.

UM, I WAS JUST GONNA UNZIP THAT
SUIT, LET IT FILL WITH WATER.

I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH GOD,

AND, UH, JUST LET MY PARENTS,
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD A DAUGHTER,

JUST LET JUST ALL THESE PEOPLE
KNOW THAT, LIKE, I WAS--

I'M OKAY GOING OUT LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, I'M COOL WITH IT.

AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN
I COULD HEAR IT REAL FAINTLY,

THE HELICOPTER SOUND.

IT FLEW RIGHT TO ME,
SHINED ITS LIGHT ON ME.

I WAS DOING THIS, AND, UH,

IT PICKED THE NOSE UP
AND IT TOOK OFF.

I WAS THINKING,
MAN, WHAT THE HELL?

JUST WHEN SHUCK THINKS
HE'S GOING TO BE RESCUED,

THE HELICOPTER MOVES ON.

THE COAST GUARD
NEEDS TO ESTABLISH

HOW MANY SURVIVORS
ARE IN THE WATER

BEFORE THEY CAN BEGIN
THE RESCUE.

THE FIRST HELICOPTER,
WHEN THEY ARRIVED,

THE SURVIVORS WERE SPACED
A FEW HUNDRED YARDS APART.

ABOUT HALF OF THEM
WERE IN TWO LIFE RAFTS

AND THE OTHER HALF WERE
FREE-FLOATING IN SURVIVAL SUITS

IN THE WAVES.

THE FIRST THING WE HEARD,

JUST THIS LOUD JUST DRONE,
JUST KIND OF COMING OVER US.

YOU JUST KNEW WHAT IT WAS.

AND WE WAVED TO 'EM, WE'RE OKAY,

GO GET THE, YOU KNOW,
GET THE OTHER GUYS, YOU KNOW.

WE KNEW THOSE GUYS
NEEDED THE HELP RIGHT AWAY.

THE PLAN IS TO RESCUE THOSE

FLOATING FARTHEST
FROM THE CENTER FIRST

AND WORK THEIR WAY IN.

RYAN SHUCK IS AMONG
THE FIRST THEY HOIST TO SAFETY.

AND THEN IT CAME BACK
TO ME, UM,

AND THEN IT SHINED ITS LIGHT
AT ME AGAIN,

AND THEN I SEEN THE RESCUE
SWIMMER COMING DOWN ON A LINE,

AND HE HIT THE WATER.

HE KIND OF SPUN ME AROUND, PUT
MY BACK TO HIM AND PULLED ME,

AND, UH, ME AND HIM WERE GONNA
GO UP TOGETHER IN THE HARNESS.

I WAS THE FIRST ONE OUT.

SOON AFTER RYAN SHUCK
IS RESCUED,

ABRAM HELLER ARRIVES
IN THE SECOND HELICOPTER.

AND I REMEMBER
KIND OF LOOKING AROUND

AND REALIZING THE,
THE ENORMITY OF THE SITUATION.

WE KNEW THAT WE WERE BITING OFF
MORE THAN WE COULD CHEW,

THERE WAS MORE PEOPLE IN
THE WATER THAN WE COULD RESCUE.

THE FIRST HELICOPTER
CAN ONLY HANDLE 12 SURVIVORS.

ABRAM HELLER'S CHOPPER
CAN CARRY EVEN FEWER.

HE'S GOING DOWN.

IT MEANS THEY'LL
HAVE TO DO SEVERAL TRIPS,

TO DROP OFF SURVIVORS
ON THE COAST GUARD CUTTER MUNRO.

I SWAM UP,
COMMUNICATE WITH THE GUY,

SIGNAL READY FOR PICKUP

SO THEY'D LOWER THE BASKET
AS CLOSE TO US AS THEY COULD,

AND I'D PUT THE SURVIVOR IN,
AND UP HE WOULD GO.

I'D MOVE TO THE NEXT SURVIVOR
AND DO IT AGAIN.

HELLER AND
THE COAST GUARD RESCUE TEAM

WORK NONSTOP
FOR MORE THAN FIVE HOURS

TO PULL MORE MEN FROM THE WATER.

A SMALL LIFE RAFT
FLOATING IN THE BERING SEA

LED COAST GUARD RESCUERS

TO SURVIVORS
OF A SINKING FISHING VESSEL.

THE ALASKA RANGER
STARTED TAKING ON WATER

WHEN THE CREW RADIOED IN
A MAYDAY.

DESPITE A LONG SEARCH

THAT STRETCHES
INTO THE FOLLOWING DAY,

ONE CREWMEMBER IS STILL MISSING.

THE ALASKA RANGER'S SISTER SHIP,
THE ALASKA WARRIOR,

JOINS THE COAST GUARD CUTTER MUNRO

IN SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS,

AND HELPS WITH THE GRIM TASK
OF COLLECTING BODIES.

IT'S REWARDING FOR SURE.

IT'S NOT ALL DAYS
LIKE THE ALASKA RANGER.

THAT'S, I MEAN, TEN TIMES BIGGER

THAN ANYTHING ELSE I'LL DO
THE REST OF MY CAREER, FOR SURE.

IN THE END, RESCUERS
SAVE THE LIVES OF 42 CREWMEMBERS

FROM THE ALASKA RANGER

AND FIND THE BODIES OF FOUR MORE
WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT.

THE FIFTH CREWMEMBER IS MISSING.

HIS BODY IS NEVER FOUND.

THE HARDEST PART
OF THE WHOLE SCENARIO,

THE WHOLE ACCIDENT, WAS DEALING
WITH THE CASUALTIES.

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE I KNEW

SOME OF THOSE GUYS REALLY WELL.

YOU KNOW, THE FIVE PEOPLE
THAT DIED.

GOOD GUYS, DEAD.

DID SOME PRETTY COOL STUFF
OUT THERE TO HELP,

PEOPLE HELPED EACH OTHER
OUT THERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE
HELPED EACH OTHER.

THE COAST GUARD
MUST NOW FIND OUT

WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE ALASKA RANGER

AND WHY FIVE FISHERMEN ARE DEAD.

WITH MORE THAN 1,500
FISHING VESSELS

OPERATING ON THE BERING SEA,

IT WILL BE UP TO THEM
TO TRY TO MAKE

ONE OF THE DEADLIEST JOBS
IN AMERICA SAFER.

CAPTAIN MICHAEL RAND
IS APPOINTED TO CHAIR

THE HIGHEST LEVEL
OF INVESTIGATION

A MARINE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION.

THE GOAL
OF THE MARINE BOARD,

LIKE ANY INVESTIGATION,

IS TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE
OF THE CASUALTY

BUT TO ALSO LOOK AT ALL
THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED.

WHAT CAUSED THE VESSEL
TO BE IN A POSITION

THAT IT WOULD HAVE HAD
THIS CASUALTY?

RAND WANTS
TECHNICALLY SAVVY OFFICERS

WITH INVESTIGATIVE EXPERIENCE.

HE CHOOSES BENJAMIN HAWKINS.

TRAGICALLY WE LOST FIVE,

BUT WE COULD HAVE LOST ALL 47
BASED ON WHERE IT WAS.

RAND ALSO CHOOSES
JOHN NADEAU.

YOU'RE EMPOWERED
AS THAT MARINE BOARD

TO GO AND JUST DO
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO

TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES
AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT

HOW TO PREVENT THAT
FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

THE SHIP WAS IN WATER

THAT WAS MUCH TOO DEEP FOR US
TO EVER GO,

IN TOO REMOTE OF AN AREA

THAT WE WERE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE
TO SEND DOWN

A REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE
TO LOOK AT IT.

THE CHALLENGE--

INVESTIGATORS HAVE TO SOLVE
THE SINKING OF THE SHIP

AND THE LOSS OF FIVE LIVES

WITHOUT A SHRED
OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

THE FISHING VESSEL ALASKA RANGER

IS AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE BERING SEA.

UNABLE TO EXAMINE
THE SHIP ITSELF,

COAST GUARD INVESTIGATORS
TRY TO DETERMINE

WHAT CAUSED THE SINKING
AND THE DEATHS OF FIVE CREW.

THE ONLY EVIDENCE WE HAD

WAS THE TESTIMONY
OF THE WITNESSES AND SURVIVORS,

TO START TO COLLECT
THEIR TESTIMONY

AND TO HEAR
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

THE LONGER TIME GOES BY,

THE MORE THE STORY CHANGES
IN THEIR MIND,

WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT.

EACH HAD THEIR OWN STORY,

THEIR OWN PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING,
WHY WERE THEY DOING THIS,

WHY'D THEY DO THAT?

SOME OF THE KEY PEOPLE

UNFORTUNATELY WERE LOST
IN THE CASUALTY--

YOU KNOW, THE MASTER,
CHIEF MATE.

MR. LUNDY,
THANKS FOR COMING IN.

NO PROBLEM.

RODNEY LUNDY'S
TESTIMONY COULD BE CRITICAL.

HE'S BEEN WITH THE SHIP
MORE THAN 10 YEARS,

AND HE'S THE ONE
WHO FOUND THE FLOODING.

ONE OF THE FIRST OBJECTIVES

WAS TO DETERMINE
WHAT CAUSED THE, THE FLOODING.

WELL, AFTER THE ALARM
WENT OFF,

I MADE MY WAY BACK
TO THE RUDDER ROOM.

LUNDY HAS
A TERRIFYING STORY TO TELL.

HE DESCRIBES THE MYSTERIOUS
FLOODING IN THE RUDDER ROOM

AND HOW IT SPREAD SO FAST.

IT'S LIKE
A WALL OF WATER.

IT'S LIKE NOTHING I'D SEEN.

WE HAD TO HAVE LOST A RUDDER.

HE THOUGHT THE RUDDER
HAD FALLEN OFF.

LUNDY REMEMBERS
THE RUDDER NEEDED REPAIRS

JUST HOURS BEFORE
THE DISASTER STRUCK.

I EXPLAINED TO 'EM
THAT THE RUDDER WAS LEAKING,

WHICH IT HAD BEEN ALL DAY LONG,

SO I HAD TO GREASE IT WITH,
LIKE, SEVEN GALLONS OF GREASE.

AND THAT'S NOT NORMAL.

HOURS LATER,
THE FLOODING LOOKED

LIKE IT WAS COMING
FROM THE EXACT LOCATION

OF THAT LEAKY RUDDER POST.

WHEELHOUSE.

DAVE, IT--IT'S ROD.

I EXPLAINED TO HIM WE DROPPED
THE STARBOARD RUDDER.

SOUND THE GENERAL ALARM!

LOSING A RUDDER FITS.

IT WOULD EXPLAIN THE FLOODING
IN THE STERN OF THE SHIP,

AND ALSO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

STEERING NOT RESPONDING!

MOMENTS
AFTER THE FLOODING BEGAN,

THE CAPTAIN LOST CONTROL
OF THE SHIP.

IS IT BECAUSE
THE STARBOARD RUDDER FELL OFF?

IT HAD TO BE A RUDDER.

GIVEN THE SIZE
OF THE RUDDERS,

IF YOU DID LOSE A RUDDER,

THAT WOULD CAUSE SOME
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FLOODING

BACK THERE, QUICKLY.

SO THAT SEEMED LIKE
A PLAUSIBLE SCENARIO.

LOSING THE RUDDERS...

IT'S NOT SOMETHING
YOU HEAR OF EVERY DAY,

SO IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT.

YOU START SAYING, "WELL,
HOW DO YOU LOSE A RUDDER?"

TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION,

RAND TURNS
TO COAST GUARD INVESTIGATOR

AND ENGINEER KEN OLSEN.

LET ME SHOW YOU.

I HAD WORKED WITH KEN
OFF AND ON THROUGH THE YEARS.

I KNEW THAT HE WAS

A VERY THOROUGH AND
DETAIL-ORIENTED INVESTIGATOR.

ALL RIGHT, LET ME SHOW
YOU. NOW...

OLSEN IMMEDIATELY
DOUBTS IT WAS A DROPPED RUDDER

THAT CAUSED THE DISASTER.

THE RUDDERS ARE DESIGNED
NOT TO FALL OUT.

YOU HAD ABOUT
A 12-FOOT RUDDER POST

COMING UP OUT OF THE RUDDER
THROUGH THE HULL.

THIS IS
THE RUDDER CONFIGURATION.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THE RUDDER,
THERE'S A TAPERED AREA.

IT FORMS A VERY, VERY TIGHT
INTERFERENCE FIT,

IS WHAT THEY CALL IT.

THE RUDDER IS HELD IN PLACE

BY A CAREFULLY DESIGNED ASSEMBLY

CONSISTING OF MORE THAN A DOZEN
DIFFERENT PARTS.

EVEN IF IT WAS LOOSE
AND LEAKING SEAWATER,

OLSEN CAN'T BELIEVE
IT WOULD FALL OUT.

IT'S SECURED PRETTY HEAVILY,

AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF IT
COMING APART BY ITSELF

WOULD SEEM TO BE VERY UNLIKELY.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE SIMPLY
BECAUSE TOO MANY THINGS

HAD TO BE COMPROMISED
FOR THE RUDDER TO DROP.

SO WE WEREN'T CONVINCED
THAT THE RUDDER HAD FALLEN OFF.

THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE
BACK THERE FLOODING.

IF IT WASN'T A LOST RUDDER,

WHATEVER IT WAS ALLOWED
ENOUGH SEAWATER IN

TO SINK THE 190-FOOT SHIP.

ACCORDING TO LUNDY,
HE SHUT THE WATERTIGHT DOOR.

SO HOW DID THE FLOODING SPREAD?

FLOODING SHOULD BE CONTAINED.

MAYBE LOSE EQUIPMENT,
BUT YOU SHOULDN'T SINK.

SO YOU START WONDERING,
WELL, WHY DID IT KEEP FLOODING?

WHY'D THE FLOODING PROGRESS?

WE NEED TO KNOW
A LOT MORE ABOUT THIS SHIP.

THE INVESTIGATORS

CAN'T GET TO THE ALASKA RANGER
FOR CLUES,

BUT THEY CAN GET

HER SISTER SHIP
THE ALASKA WARRIOR.

THE TWO ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL.

THE ALASKA WARRIOR WAS
ALSO OWNED BY THE SAME COMPANY,

AND SO ARGUABLY WAS MAINTAINED
IN A SIMILAR CONDITION

TO WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE FOUND
THE ALASKA RANGER.

THEY EXAMINE
THE ALASKA WARRIOR,

AND WHAT THEY FIND...

LOOK AT THAT...

...IS TROUBLING.

YOU GET A SENSE
FOR HOW THEY OPERATE,

HOW THE VESSEL'S MAINTAINED.

WATERTIGHT DOORS,

WHICH ONLY WORK
IF THEY'RE SECURED AND CLOSED,

WOULD BE TIED OPEN, SO IF
YOUR DOORS ARE OPEN LIKE THAT,

WELL, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT GONNA
BE CONTAINING THE FLOODING.

ANOTHER DOOR LEFT OPEN.

I MEAN, YOU JUST LOOKED
AROUND THE DOORFRAME,

AND YOU'D SEE LIKE A TWO-INCH
PIPE THROUGH THE BULKHEAD

THAT HAD NOTHING
BLANKING IT OFF.

I MEAN, IT WAS
AN OPEN PIPE PENETRATION

THAT EXPOSED THE RUDDER ROOM

TO THE REST
OF THE ENGINEERING SPACES.

AND THEN WE ACTUALLY HAD HOLES
IN THE BULKHEAD

WHERE SHE HAD
JUST RUSTED THROUGH.

SHODDY MAINTENANCE, HOLES,

AND WATERTIGHT DOORS TIED OPEN--

THEY DON'T EXPLAIN
HOW THE FLOODING STARTED,

BUT THEY CERTAINLY SHOW

HOW IT MIGHT HAVE SPREAD
TO THE REST OF THE SHIP.

AS WE'RE LOOKING
AT THE WARRIOR,

IT JUST PRETTY MUCH VALIDATED
WHAT WE ALREADY SUSPECTED,

THAT THE ALASKA RANGER HAD
POOR WATERTIGHT INTEGRITY.

INVESTIGATORS
NOW HAVE A SOLID THEORY

ABOUT HOW THE FLOODING SPREAD.

BUT THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA
HOW IT STARTED.

THEY INTERVIEW RYAN SHUCK.

HE WORKED ON THE ALASKA RANGER
AS A TALLYMAN COUNTING THE FISH.

IS HE AWARE
OF ANY PART OF THE SHIP

THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED
OR LEAKING?

THE HULL. MAYBE.

UM, I KNOW IT TOOK SOME DAMAGE
ON OUR TRIP IN THAT ICE.

SHUCK DESCRIBES
AN INCIDENT EARLIER THAT YEAR.

IT MIGHT HAVE
GOTTEN DAMAGED THEN.

WE WERE FISHING
OUT IN THE SOLID ICE

WHERE IT WAS FROZEN LIKE A LAKE.

FISHING IN ICY WATERS

IS COMMON PRACTICE
ON THE BERING SEA.

IT'S DANGEROUS, AND CAPTAINS
NEED TO EXERCISE CAUTION.

BUT ACCORDING TO SHUCK,
THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

WE WERE GOING FULL SPEED.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST
THAT BOAT GOES, YOU KNOW,

12 KNOTS OR SOMETHING,

BUT THAT'S WAY TOO FAST
THROUGH THAT ICE.

YOU COULD HEAR IT,
IT JUST WENT, "RRR!"

WE KNEW
THAT SHE WAS NOT BUILT

TO OPERATE IN ICE.

AND DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPES
OF ICE SHE WAS OPERATING IN,

THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT,
YOU KNOW, SHE DAMAGED THE HULL.

INVESTIGATORS WONDER,

WHY WOULD A SEASONED CAPTAIN
RISK DAMAGING HIS SHIP?

WHAT SHUCK SAYS NEXT TAKES THEM
COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE.

THE FISH MASTER,
WHILE HE WAS ON THE HELM, UM...

THE FISHING MASTER?

YEAH, KONNO.
HE TOOK US THROUGH.

WHAT THEY'VE JUST HEARD

IS ABOUT TO MOVE
THE INVESTIGATION

IN A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION.

IF SOMEONE ELSE ON THE BRIDGE
WAS CALLING THE SHOTS,

NOT ONLY IS IT DANGEROUS,
IT'S ALSO AGAINST THE LAW.

THE COAST GUARD INVESTIGATION

INTO THE SINKING
OF THE ALASKA RANGER

HAS HEARD TROUBLING TESTIMONY
FROM HER CREW.

IT SEEMS NOT ONLY WAS THE SHIP

DRIVEN RECKLESSLY
THROUGH THE ICE,

BUT THE PERSON DRIVING THE SHIP
WASN'T AUTHORIZED TO DO SO.

GET YOUR SIGNATURE
ON THESE REAL QUICK?

KONNO, THE FISH MASTER,

I ACTUALLY HAD
A LOT OF DEALINGS WITH HIM,

BEING THE TALLY PERSON.

HE PICKED WHERE WE FISHED.

FISH MASTER
SATOSHI KONNO'S JOB

IS TO FIND THE RICHEST
FISHING AREAS FOR THE SHIP.

BUT INVESTIGATORS LEARN

ON A PREVIOUS VOYAGE, KONNO ALSO
TOOK CONTROL OF THE SHIP.

HOW MUCH LONGER

TILL WE'RE OUT OF THIS ICE,
YOU THINK?

NOT TOO LONG.

WE'LL GET THERE.

IT MIGHT HAVE HAD
SOME DAMAGE THEN?

WHEN WE HEARD
TESTIMONY FROM CREW

THAT THE FISH MASTER WAS
IN CHARGE OF THE ALASKA RANGER,

IT IMMEDIATELY, UH, SETS OFF
RED FLAGS FOR THE MARINE BOARD.

UH, THAT CERTAINLY FLIES
IN THE FACE OF OUR REGULATIONS,

AND THAT ANY IDEA
THAT SOMEBODY ELSE

IS DIRECTING THE MOVEMENTS
OR THE OPERATION OF THE VESSEL

IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

IT WAS AGAINST REGULATIONS

FOR THE UNLICENSED FISH MASTER
TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE VESSEL.

FOR ONE THING, IT COULD MAKE
THE CREW DANGEROUSLY UNCERTAIN

ABOUT WHO IS CALLING THE SHOTS.

THANKS, ERIC. I DON'T
KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT YOU.

THEORETICALLY,
THE CAPTAIN IS SUPPOSED TO BE

IN CHARGE OF THE BOAT.

AS FAR AS THE COAST GUARD'S
CONCERNED,

THE CAPTAIN'S IN CHARGE
OF THE BOAT.

YOU DONE WITH THAT?
I'M HEADING BACK DOWN.

YEAH, THANKS.

BUT THE FISH MASTER
ON THESE BOATS

IS LIKE THE HEAD GUY,
YOU DON'T MESS WITH HIM.

FIND US THE FISH, BUDDY.

FIND THAT MONEY.

YES, YES.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT KONNO

WAS CONTROLLING THE SHIP
ON THE DAY OF THE DISASTER,

BUT IT'S A WORRISOME SIGN

THAT REGULATIONS
WEREN'T ALWAYS BEING FOLLOWED.

HERE AND HERE.

THAT'S WHERE WE START.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

WAS THE ALASKA RANGER
TAKING OTHER CHANCES

TO GET TO THE FISH?

TAKE US A COUPLE OF DAYS.

BE BETTER
TO GET THERE FASTER.

WE'RE THERE TO MAKE MONEY,

SO EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE
THE FIRST OUT THERE,

THE FIRST FISHING;
BEAT THE OTHER GUYS.

INVESTIGATORS WANT TO KNOW

IF THE ALASKA RANGER'S
NEED FOR SPEED

COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE
TO THE SHIP'S HULL.

SO APPARENTLY THEY
TRANSITED THROUGH ICE SOMETIMES.

FISHING ON THE EDGE.

NOW THEY MAY HAVE
EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT.

WE MANAGED TO GET
SOME PICTURES, SOME PHOTOGRAPHS

THAT SOME OF THEM
HAD TAKEN IN THE ICE.

A MEMBER
OF THE ALASKA RANGER'S CREW

CAPTURED PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO
ON THAT EARLIER VOYAGE.

WE HAD TO ANALYZE
AND DETERMINE

WHETHER THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
A SOURCE OF THE FLOODING.

THE COAST GUARD ALSO HAS
A FLEET OF ICEBREAKERS,

SO WE HAD SOME
IN-HOUSE EXPERTISE.

OKAY, I GOT IT ALL CUED UP HERE.

COAST GUARD EXPERTS
STUDY THE IMAGES

AND ARE ABLE TO ESTIMATE
THE THICKNESS OF THE ICE.

BUT THEY DON'T THINK
IT'S WHAT SANK THE SHIP.

THEY LOOKED AT IT
AND TOLD US THAT, YOU KNOW,

FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE,

THAT WHILE THE SHIP
MAY HAVE RUN THROUGH THE ICE,

IF THE ICE HAD CAUSED
THE FAILURE,

IT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED
AT THE TIME.

IT WASN'T THE KIND OF THING

THAT THEY'RE GONNA HIT
A PIECE OF ICE NOW

AND TWO MONTHS LATER A PLATE
IS GONNA START TO LEAK.

SORRY, GENTLEMEN,

I DON'T THINK ICE
IS BEHIND THIS.

BUT IN THE END,
THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING THERE,

UM, THAT WE COULD SAY THAT,
HOW THE ICE AT ANY TIME

COULD HAVE IMPACTED
THE AFTER PART OF THE VESSEL.

INVESTIGATORS
ARE BACK AT SQUARE ONE.

SO THANKS FOR COMING IN,
MR. HAYNES.

THEY RETURN TO TESTIMONY

ABOUT THE EVENTS OF THAT NIGHT,
HOPING FOR A LEAD.

SHIP'S COOK ERIC HAYNES
TELLS THEM

HE HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT
TO EVERYTHING.

I WENT
INTO THE WHEELHOUSE.

THERE WAS ALL KINDS
OF COMMOTION GOING ON.

ACCORDING TO HAYNES,

SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED
AFTER THEY LOST POWER.

THE SHIP STARTED MOVING
IN AN UNUSUAL WAY.

AND ALL OF US
JUST LUNGED FORWARD LIKE THIS.

WE JUST--

WHAT WOULD CAUSE THAT?

WHEN YOU START LOSING POWER,
WHAT'S GOING ON?

SO AFTER THAT I WENT OUT
TO, TO GET THE RAFTS,

'CAUSE CAPTAIN PETE SAID
WE WERE GOING DOWN.

WHEN HAYNES
LAUNCHED THE RAFT,

IT UNEXPECTEDLY PULLED AWAY,

MOVING BEYOND THE FRONT
OF THE SHIP.

AND THAT ROPE
JUST TOOK OFF,

RIGHT THROUGH MY GLOVES,
RIGHT THROUGH MY HANDS.

WHY WOULD THAT HAPPEN?
THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

WHY IS A RAFT
SHOOTING PAST THE BOW?

INVESTIGATORS KNOW
THE BIZARRE MOVEMENT

OF THE SHIP AND ITS LIFE RAFTS

COULD BE THE CLUE
THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

THEY BELIEVE IT MIGHT EXPLAIN
WHY THE SHIP WENT DOWN SO FAST.

HEY, I'VE GOT THE PLANS.

OKAY, LET'S TAKE
A LOOK AT THIS.

WE STARTED TO LOOK
AT THE DESIGN OF THE SHIP

AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT, OKAY,
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THE TEAM STARTS
BY COLLECTING TECHNICAL PLANS

OF THE SHIP'S PROPULSION SYSTEM.

THE ALASKA RANGER HAD
CONTROLLABLE-PITCH PROPELLERS.

THESE PROPELLERS
CAN SHIFT INTO REVERSE

WITHOUT CHANGING
THEIR DIRECTION OF ROTATION.

INSTEAD, CHANGING THE ANGLE
OF THE BLADES

DETERMINES WHETHER THE BOAT
GOES FORWARD OR BACKWARD.

BUT THERE'S AN UNUSUAL FEATURE
ON THIS PROPELLER

THAT'S OF PARTICULAR INTEREST
TO THE INVESTIGATORS.

THE BLADES ARE KEPT
AT THE CORRECT PITCH

BY ELECTRIC MOTORS,

BUT IF THE POWER IS INTERRUPTED,

THE PITCH OF THE BLADES
CAN DRIFT INTO REVERSE.

WE WERE ABLE
TO DETERMINE THAT,

SHOULD IT LOSE POWER,

THE CONTROLLABLE-PITCH
PROPELLERS WOULD GO FULL ASTERN.

LET'S GO!
LAUNCH THE RAFTS!

AFTER
THE ELECTRICAL POWER WENT OUT,

THE ENGINES WERE STILL RUNNING,

DRIVING THE SHIP IN REVERSE
AT THE WORST POSSIBLE MOMENT.

WHEN ERIC THE COOK
LAUNCHED THE RAFT,

HE SAW IT GO SHOOTING
PAST THE BOW,

AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZED

THAT THE SHIP WAS GOING
FULL ASTERN

AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT.

WITH THE STERN
COMPARTMENTS FLOODED

AND RIDING LOW,

DRIVING BACKWARDS WOULD
HAVE BURIED THE REAR DECK

INTO THE ONCOMING SEAS.

ABANDON SHIP!
ABANDON SHIP!

LET'S GO!

WHETHER THE CAPTAIN
WAS UNAWARE

OR UNABLE TO SHUT DOWN
THE ENGINES,

INVESTIGATORS NOW KNOW

WHY THE ATTEMPT TO ABANDON SHIP
WENT SO BADLY.

BUT THEY STILL HAVE NO IDEA

WHAT TRIGGERED THE FLOODING
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE WERE STRUGGLING.

WE KNEW THAT IT
HAPPENED IN THE STERN,

THE FLOODING HAD STARTED
IN THE STERN.

BUT WE REALLY COULDN'T FIND
THAT ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE

THAT GAVE US THAT "AH-HA,

THIS IS WHAT IT IS,
THIS IS WHERE IT CAME FROM."

WITH THE FORMAL HEARINGS OVER,

THE MARINE BOARD TURNS
THEIR FOCUS TO THE SHIP.

SO ON ONE HAND
WE APPROACH THE INVESTIGATION

FROM THE STANDPOINT
OF COLLECTING TESTIMONY

FROM ALL THE SURVIVING
CREW MEMBERS.

AND THAT KIND OF HELPS US BUILD
A STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT IN A SIMILAR MANNER

WE HAVE TO REBUILD THE STORY
OF THE SHIP ITSELF,

AND IT'S OFTEN LAID OUT
IN THE PLANS OF THE SHIP

AND THE MODIFICATIONS
THAT WERE MADE ALONG THE WAY.

THEY SUBPOENA
THE OWNERS OF THE ALASKA RANGER

FOR THEIR FILES

AND START DIGGING THROUGH
HER SERVICE RECORD

LOOKING FOR CLUES.

WAS THERE A WEAKNESS
IN THE SHIP'S STRUCTURE--

A FAULTY REPAIR OR MODIFICATION

THAT COULD HAVE TRIGGERED
THE DISASTER?

SO SHE WAS BUILT
IN LOUISIANA

TO SUPPLY THE OIL RIGS.

THE ALASKA RANGER
WAS BUILT IN 1973.

AND AT SOME POINT
SHE WAS BOUGHT

AND CONVERTED
INTO A FISH PROCESSOR.

RECORDS SHOW
THAT OVER 45 YEARS IN SERVICE,

THE SHIP UNDERWENT
NUMEROUS MODIFICATIONS.

WHAT THE IMPACTS
OF THOSE MODIFICATIONS

MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE VESSEL

AND HOW THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PART
OF THE LOSS IS, YOU KNOW,

SOMETHING WE NEED TO PIECE BACK
TOGETHER AND RECONSTRUCT.

ONCE AGAIN,
INVESTIGATORS TURN

TO ENGINEER KEN OLSEN

TO SEE IF SOMETHING'S
BEEN MISSED.

AS OLSEN SEARCHES THROUGH
THE SHIP'S MAINTENANCE RECORDS,

HE NOTICES SOMETHING INTRIGUING.

OVER THE YEARS A SERIES
OF SMALL FRACTURES

HAVE BEEN REPAIRED
IN THE AFT SECTION OF THE HULL.

OLSEN WONDERS
IF THEY COULD BE RELATED.

IT CLEARLY POINTED
THAT THERE WAS

A LOT OF STRESS AND STRAIN
ON THE AFT END OF THE VESSEL.

THEN HE GETS A LUCKY BREAK.

HE DISCOVERS A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN
DURING ONE OF THE REPAIRS

SHOWING WHERE STRUTS CONNECT
THE SHIP'S PROPELLER DUCTS

TO THE HULL.

IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH

IS A GUY WELDING
ON ONE OF THE STRUTS,

AND, WAIT A MINUTE,

WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TO BE
WELDING ON THE STRUTS?

YOU ASK YOURSELF.

NOW, THAT'S WEIRD.

THESE STRUTS
HAVE NO MOVING PARTS.

THEY ALMOST NEVER
HAVE TO BE REPAIRED.

OLSEN THINKS HE MAY HAVE FOUND
THE SMOKING GUN.

GOT IT.

IF HE'S RIGHT,
IT COULD FINALLY EXPLAIN

WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE ALASKA RANGER.

MORE THAN A YEAR
AFTER THE SINKING

OF THE ALASKA RANGER,

COAST GUARD INVESTIGATORS
ARE CLOSING IN

ON THE POSSIBLE CAUSE.

GENTLEMEN, I THINK
WE GOT SOMETHING HERE.

A SERIES OF REPAIRS

IN THE AFT SECTION
OF THE SHIP'S HULL.

WELDS, WELDING HERE.

IF THERE WAS ANY AH-HA MOMENT,

IT'S WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING
IN THIS PHOTO

OF THIS REPAIR WORK BEING DONE--

DOESN'T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE REPAIRS
ARE FOR STRESS CRACKS.

KEN OLSEN THINKS
THEY MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED

WHEN HEAVY STEEL PROPELLER DUCTS
WERE ADDED TO THE SHIP.

THE DUCTS SURROUND THE PROPELLER

TO IMPROVE THRUST
AND FUEL EFFICIENCY.

EXTREMELY HEAVY, THEY CAN WEIGH
MORE THAN A TON EACH.

THE STRUTS THAT HOLD
THE DUCTS IN PLACE

NEED TO TIE INTO THE INTERNAL
STRUCTURE OF THE SHIP.

IF THEY'RE ATTACHED ONLY TO
THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE HULL,

THE HULL CAN WEAKEN
AND FRACTURE.

PERHAPS THE UNUSUAL REPAIRS
WERE DONE

TO FIX A BOTCHED INSTALLATION.

HERE ARE
THE MODIFICATION PLANS.

OLSEN HAS SEARCHED
THE RECORDS.

"A"...

HE FOUND PLANS
FOR TWO DIFFERENT METHODS

TO SAFELY ATTACH THE DUCTS.

...AND "B."

SO, WHICH ONE
DID THEY USE?

NEITHER.

SO THE STRUTS
WEREN'T WELDED INTO THE FRAME?

NO, SIR.

RATHER THAN GOING
THROUGH THE HULL

UP INTO THE STRUCTURE
AND THE BEAMS,

THEY JUST ATTACHED IT RIGHT
TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE HULL,

WHICH IS NOT A GOOD WAY
TO HANG IT.

NOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING
THAT'S SUBJECTED

TO A LOT OF VIBRATION
BY THE ROTATING PROPELLERS.

AND EVENTUALLY THESE WELDS
THAT ARE HOLDING IT TO THE SHELL

ARE GONNA START TO CRACK.

AND THEN WE LOOKED
AT THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS

AND REALIZED THAT THEY
HAD DONE REPAIRS

AROUND THE NOZZLES

ALMOST EACH TIME THE SHIP
HAD BEEN IN DRY DOCK

SINCE THEY'D BEEN INSTALLED.

IF THE WELD
ON THE STARBOARD STRUT GAVE WAY,

IT WOULD HAVE TORN A HOLE

IN THE SAME AREA
IN THE RUDDER ROOM

WHERE THE FLOODING BEGAN.

THE STRUTS, BEING DIRECTLY
UNDERNEATH THE RUDDER ROOM,

CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE FIT
THE SCENARIO

OF RODNEY LUNDY
SAYING IT'S FLOODING.

THE LOCATION
OF THE STRUT WELD

IS SO CLOSE TO THE RUDDER POST

THAT EVEN A SEASONED CREWMAN
LIKE ROD LUNDY

COULD HAVE MISTAKEN
THE SOURCE OF FLOODING.

WHEELHOUSE.

DAVE, IT--IT'S ROD.

WE GOT MAJOR FLOODING
IN THE RUDDER ROOM.

SOUND THE GENERAL ALARM.

I STILL KIND OF
REMEMBER THAT DAY

WHEN WE'RE LIKE, "IT'S THIS.
THIS HAS GOT TO BE IT."

TWO YEARS AFTER THE
SINKING OF THE ALASKA RANGER,

THE COAST GUARD CONCLUDES
THE TRAGEDY LIKELY STARTED

WHEN A STRUT ATTACHING THE
STARBOARD PROPELLER DUCT BROKE,

TEARING A HOLE
IN THE SHIP'S HULL.

IT TRIGGERED A MASSIVE FLOOD
IN THE SHIP'S RUDDER ROOM.

NOW. WAKE UP! GET UP!

UP, UP, UP! COME ON, GET UP!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

EVERYBODY TO THE BRIDGE
RIGHT NOW!

LACK OF WATERTIGHT INTEGRITY

DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE

ALLOWED THE FLOODING TO SPREAD.

NO, NO, NO, NO!
WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE NOW!

THERE WAS NOTHING
THE CREW COULD DO TO STOP IT.

THE FLOOD LED
TO A POWER FAILURE...

...WHICH CAUSED THE
CONTROLLABLE-PITCH PROPELLERS

TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE.

AS THE SHIP BURIED ITSELF
INTO THE SEA,

THE CAPTAIN WAS EITHER UNAWARE

OR UNABLE
TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINES.

THE BOAT WAS GOING IN
FULL ASTERN.

WE WERE DIGGING OUR OWN GRAVE.

IT CONDEMNED FIVE MEN
TO THEIR DEATHS IN THE ICY SEA.

IN THEIR FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS,

THE MARINE BOARD
OF INVESTIGATION

TAKES DIRECT AIM
AT FISHING COMPANIES

WITH POOR MAINTENANCE STANDARDS
THAT PUT CREWS' LIVES AT RISK.

ONE OF OUR PRIMARY
CONCLUSIONS WAS THE COAST GUARD

HAD TO GO BACK AND SEEK
MORE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

TO BE ABLE TO REQUIRE
FISHING VESSELS

TO BE INSPECTED
BY THE COAST GUARD,

TO DETERMINE THAT THEY
ARE BEING MAINTAINED PROPERLY,

THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE SAFE

FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE SAILING ON THEM.

THE ALASKA RANGER GOT
A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION

AND HAS, I THINK, UH, REALLY
HELPED IMPROVE THE SAFETY

OF SOME OF THESE VESSELS,

THESE OLDER FISHING VESSELS
THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE.

WE KNOW THAT SOME
OF THOSE FISHERMEN GOING TO SEA

ARE SAFER NOW
THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

BUT THAT SAID, YOU KNOW,

WE'RE TIRELESS
ABOUT PURSUING SAFETY.

AND WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP

UNTIL WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE
ARE, ARE SAFE AT SEA.

THE STORY OF THE ALASKA RANGER

IS ONE OF TRAGEDY
MARKED BY THE LOSS OF FIVE MEN.

BUT IT IS ALSO THE STORY
OF SURVIVAL AND DARING RESCUE.

ONCE I GOT HOME
IT WAS LIKE,

I USED TO BE A FISHERMAN
AND THAT WAS COOL,

BUT I ALSO KNEW I NEVER WAS
GONNA DO IT AGAIN.

I LOVED THAT BOAT.

I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE,
LIKE A PIECE OF ME

WENT DOWN WITH THE RANGER.

I LOOK BACK,
AND IT KIND OF,

KIND OF HAUNTS ME A LITTLE BIT,
THE GUYS THAT DIDN'T COME HOME.