F/V Katmai
If you saw tonight’s episode, then you saw the tragic loss of the Katmai fishing vessel, a cod-boat that sank in the Bering Sea in October 2008. The episode ended with the finding of a body in a survival suit - the fate of ten other fishermen was left unknown and the storyline will presumably pick up next week. For those who are dying to know what happened to the Katmai and its crew, you can click here for more information, but in deference for those who want to wait until everything plays out on next week’s episode, I won’t say anything about it for now.
You can view a photo of the F/V Katmai below:
F/V Katmai
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:28 am
Nice work..i was told that the Katmai fishing boat sunk in the Bering Sea off the Aleutian Islands. Four crew of the fishing vessel Katmai were rescued, but five were killed and two remained missing.
Is that right?
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Did they show anything more on Keith hitting his head on the boat? Did I miss something? I saw at the end of last week when they took his diving hood off and he was bleeding but that was it. Was there more on that last week or this week and I missed it?? thanks!!!
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
sorry - i should have also mentioned - thoughts & prayers to those involved in the Katmai situation & and their families - I’m sure they are still healing since it occurred in October - and this may reopen the wounds a bit.
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Yeah, he had his bell rung pretty badly, but he ’slept’ it off to the best of my knowledge. He had a goose egg, but that’s all that was really said about it.
Really sucks for Murray right now. I feel really bad for him and the Cornelia Marie. He got put in a bad position to begin with. He was not ready to fish and it shows.
Jonathan and his boys are doing great. About the only boat shown so far doing well. Did I hear correctly in that they were on their way to drop off their first load after only a week?
The Northwestern is the Northwestern. Dodging disaster by feet and inches. Poor greenhorne… he’s still got to learn some things. Don’t ever put your arm between the pots, silly!
Prayers go out to the families of the Katmai. It’s never a good thing to hear about this kind of stuff and I don’t think the Bearing Sea is done with everyone yet. The opening of the first show proves that.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Thanks for posting that link. Best wishes to survivors and sincere condolences to the families of the lost. I have to wonder if these men love this life or if it has become the only way they can provide for their families. Whichever, the DC boys are famous now and they keep doing this deadly work. And we love watching them.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:57 am
The survivors are nothing but liars. Greedy is all they are. Rip to the lives that were lost.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Lucky, you should know what you are talking about before you start typing. These guys did this for the memory of lost friends. Greedy means you are getting something. You are an ignorant person if you think these interviews were done to make money.
May 1st, 2009 at 3:08 am
I will never look at another piece of cod or crab again and not say a prayer for the men who risk, and give their lives for this industry. My heart just breaks for the families of all the men who were lost on the KatMai. Thank God for these men.
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
CC, If your going to say a prayer for the fishermen, then every time you eat, walk into a building, sleep, exercise….etc you should say a useless prayer. All have died in the name of….
May 6th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I agree with the comment CC left. I hear people bitch at the prices of COD and CRAB in restruants. Watching the Deadiest Catch gives a person a different perspective on just how that got to your plate. The men that do risk their lives to 1) fish in god forsaken weather in order not to lose their equipment 2) to leave their families to do their job should have a round of applause from the ones who couldnt do the job and there are many people out there that wouldnt be able to stand up to it. SO I to believe we should THANK GOD FOR THESE FISHERMEN, and say a prayer for the ones who do lose their lives on the sea, they are the ones who wont be home with their families.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:11 am
My nephew was one of the 2 never found. It was very difficult for the family to hold a service with no body. We did have a wonderful memorial service on Dec 9th, which would have been his 31st birthday, that his Mother planned.
The loss has been very hard.
May 11th, 2009 at 4:58 am
Margo…
I cannot express how sadden I am to know that you took the time to post here after a loss that your family suffered in what can only be described as a TV “reality” show to us is a horrible life changing event that will be with you and your loved ones forever.
god bless and I wish you the best..
May 24th, 2009 at 4:23 am
One of the best shows on tv
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Margo,
When the show about the Katmai first aired I cried. I pray every season that all the crab boats come home safe but for now on my prayers will go out to all the ships that their crew’s risk their lives just to make a living.
What was you nephew’s name? Is there a memorial fund set up for him? I would like to send a little something to his family.
June 19th, 2009 at 6:15 am
there is the Katmai memorial fund that was just set up. the adress is po box 9787 helena Mt. 59604. it is a nonprofit corp. dedicated to families of fishermen lost at sea, not just from this tragedy, but future ones as well. It is managed by Carlos Zabala’s mother.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:27 am
what was the home port????
June 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I was On the Alaska Ranger when it went down and I new Both Glenn and Cedric. Ironicly Glenn just got off the Ranger before are last voyage I had more than a few conversations with him he was a good person. Cedric had friends on the ranger and came over often, he got Glenn the job there they were friends for a long time and refered to each other as cousins (the both worked for FCA also) GOD bless them and the whole katmai crew along with their families. I haven’t seen the episode but I hope I sheds some light on how dangerous it can be, and that everything possible needs to be done to ensure that the saftey of the crews come first. I Know that a lot of companies do but many don’t.The actions of Capt.Pete and David prevented the ranger sinking from becoming worse dispite of the many problems on the boat we did a lot of things right. Hats off to the coastguard and warrior thank you so much. And while I have been justifiably harsh on the actions of some of the people involved in the industry there are many fine men up there, and while I will never be back a part of me will always belong up there
June 25th, 2009 at 4:10 am
First, thanks Aunt Margo for the kind words. Carlos was my son (Margo’s nephew). Carrie, the fund mentioned above is the correct address for the Memorial Fund (Katmai Memorial Fund). As Someone Who Knows states this fund is set up to help all families lost in a commerical fishing accident.
The families impacted are welcome to contact us at the address in Helena. We are determined to make this tragedy something positive. Any contributions are very gratefully accepted.
Look soon for our website. We are also encouraging families to submit photos, stories, etc. to be added to our page.
Finally, let me add the some of the captains from the Deadliest Catch have been very supportive of a fund of this type. I don’t feel confortable revealing their level of support unless they approve such an action. Fundraising is under way.
Big E, yep, Cedric was an amazing man. Actually, I believe they all were.
I also want to add that my personal belief is that this needs to be a time of healing as much as we can, and that certainly includes remembering our 4 survivors. I spoke to one of them recently and would be most happy to hear from other survivors or the families of the lost.
Susan
Carlos Martin Zabala 12/09/1977–10/22/2008
July 6th, 2009 at 4:02 am
At the end of the show the dedication listed Carlos Zabala from Helena WA. He was from Helena MT.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:25 am
condolences from the land down under
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 am
My son Joshua Leonguerrero was one of the crew that perished on that Katmai, He was only 19yrs. Joshua passion was fishing and his dream was to go to Alaska to give it a try. So the oppurtunity arrive and he left home on Aug 28 to fulfil his longtime childhood dream. As a mother, I wanted to support him. but then in my heart I know how dangerous that job would be. While he was there and he had the chance to call home, He told me in one of our conversation that He Loved me and to the rest of the family that he loved them. I would love to hear him say it again. I know what the other families are feeling. My heart goes out to Carlos Zabala ’s Family and Bill Davis’s family also. It must be much harder for them not having any closure.
Joshua Andrew Leonguerrero 3/3/89-10/22/08
You’ll always be in heart.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Its is going to be a year next week, that I have seen my Fiance’ Joshua Andrew Leon Guerrero 3.3.89-10.22.08, my heart aches for him to come to my dreams. And I also applaud those that still do it, but I dont believe I will ever have the strength to watch your show again. I think you for what you have done, and condolences to those who do not have the closure that eveyone should be blessed with. May god continue to shed his light over us all.
Sheree Lynn, for eternity est 9.24.05 purest of love.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Rest in Peace Son!
October 24th, 2009 at 4:43 am
Some of the families met in Seattle yesterday with two of the survivors. It was an emotional day, but we managed to laugh too. We left flowers for the boys at the Memorial. Adam and Ryan were the highlights of my trip. Seeing them in person has given me a real sense of being able to move forward. Meeting with one of the other Moms was comforting and I wish I hadn’t felt too ill to spend more time with her the next day.
Also we met with a former Katmai fisherman who has been a strong support for me during this last year. He knows how much I love him.
Finally, for the other man who joined us at the Memorial, thank you for your kindness. I only hesitate to mention your name because of your current situation, and I am afraid that I might complicate that. But you know who you are, and we alll appreciated spending time with you.
The Katmai fund will be receiving an influx of funding in the next couple of months. The final amount will be influenced by whether certain people who are in a position to donate do so or not. We welcome donations of any amount and will be releasing a statement from our Board of Directors soon.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I just finished watching the Deadliest Catch episode in which Sig Hansen states he is not (yet) going to tell his crew of the going lost of the Katmai. A wise choice since, like he mentiones, he wants his crew to stay sharp to have best survival conditions. I presume he would have told his crew, if the Northwestern had been close enough to assist for rescue. The Marines’ well known ‘Semper Fidelis’ was maybe firstly operated among sailors worldwide.
I have regularly watched Deadliest Catch and consider fishing at the Beringsea very dangerous. However it attracts men that hope for (and may need) the big profit involved if enough crab is catched. It is a rough job and the danger of it is rough enough as well. No matter how well prepared and rested one goes at sea, working there is a contiuneing Murphy’s Law event: it will go terribly wrong given only one terrible moment. In the sinking of the Katmai, I understand, a not tightly closed hatch was presumably the cause. I can well understand such a thing can happen. Not even a piece of equipmant colliding with the hatch, even a crew member too tired to administer the hatch not being tighty closed is enough bad luck.
I can vividly remember reading (a few times) Nicholas Monsarrat’s ‘The Cruel Sea’. Seeing ‘A Perfect Storm’ also was very illustrating to what the sea can do. She is a harsh mistress. Every sailor knows that he has to watch his steps. Apart from a few crossings from Denmark to Norway, I can not state to have been at sea, so for what She is capable of I have to use my fantasy. Deadliest Catch has added reality to it.
Like lately so the going lost at sea of most of the crew of the Katmai, is truely very hard on all of their family and friends. Fishing communities are small. One knows one another, even if one has a family in Alabama or Texas.
I wish all that suffer emotional consequences from the perishing of the Katmai the best of help from family and friends and a rested spirit from believe in God. These may still be sad times and I sincerely hope that the survivors from the Katmai (and other vessels lost at sea) can overcome this. Without, eventually, feeling guilty to be the ones that have survived, making it possible to put substance to their ’second’ life, thus giving credit to their unfortunate and dearly missed friends and family lost at sea.