Hawaii unit sent
to aid ship off Alaska

Coast Guard units from Hawaii and Alaska are heading to the aid of a disabled "Semester at Sea" research ship with 990 people aboard.

The 591-foot Explorer was 800 miles north of Midway atoll and 650 miles south of Adak, Alaska, when it was damaged by heavy seas yesterday. It is about 1,600 miles from Honolulu.

The ship is continuing on its voyage from Vancouver, Canada, to Japan at 12 mph, operating with two of its four engines. It appears to be in no immediate danger, according to a Coast Guard release.

Two crew members received minor injuries when bridge windows were broken and bridge controls damaged by a reported 50-foot wave. The ship has internal electrical power and is in communication with the Coast Guard.

Aboard the vessel used for the maritime education program are 681 students, 113 faculty and staff, and 196 crew members. Two doctors and two nurses are aboard.

Coast Guard HC-130 long-range aircraft from Barbers Point and Kodiak, Alaska, headed to the scene. The Coast Guard cutter Jarvis, home-ported in Honolulu, got under way from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where the 378-foot ship and crew were on a routine patrol.

The response effort is coordinated from the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center for the Pacific Area in Alameda, Calif.

The Coast Guard originally communicated with four merchant vessels ready to divert from their routes and assist. They were later released to continue on their way.

The ship experienced engine problems in 35-foot seas with winds gusting above 50 mph earlier yesterday, but regained power in two engines. The Bahamian-flagged vessel is owned by Stellar Maritime SA.