Northwestern’s Road to Recovery: Overcoming Setbacks and Restarting the Season
After a challenging setback, the Northwestern is back in action, resuming its crab fishing journey off the coast of Alaska. The 125-foot vessel faced a daunting challenge when it was severely damaged by fire, leaving the crew uncertain about its fate. But thanks to quick and efficient repairs, the boat is once again on its own power, ready to tackle the seas and haul in the prized crab.
Temporary Fix, Big Hope
Captain Sig Hansen, a veteran of the Northwestern, inspects the newly repaired electrical panel, which, while not permanent, will help the vessel make it through the rest of the season. “This is temporary, but at least it’ll get us through the season,” Hansen remarks. After the fire, the boat was left idle, and there was a serious question of whether it could make it back to full working order.
A key milestone is reached when the crew starts up the electrical system. “We’re getting everything started up here,” says Captain Hansen. “If everything passes the test, we’ll head out of here.” After a nerve-wracking moment when they switch from shore power to the boat’s own electrical system, the moment of truth arrives. The lights flicker on and the systems hum to life. “We’re going to be okay,” Hansen says with a sense of relief.
The final test is a success: the boat’s systems are operational, and the Northwestern is back on its own power after being shut down for over a week. “That’s a good feeling,” says Hansen, even though there’s a tinge of hesitation. “It’s tough,” he admits, “we’re starting over, trying to regain momentum after a fire, and it’s a challenge.”
The Long Road Ahead
The Northwestern sets off again, leaving the dock and heading back to the fishing grounds. At this point, the crew has been idle for more than a week, making it anyone’s guess what they will find in their crab pots. “It’s been exactly 14 days since we hauled the last pots,” Hansen says as he rallies the crew. “Finally back on the grounds after the boat caught fire, but don’t let it get you down. We’re starting over.”
As the crew works to haul their pots, they are met with the uncertainty of whether their catch is still intact. “Hopefully there’s crab in these pots. Hopefully they didn’t crawl out. Hopefully there’s no holes,” Hansen worries. The crab pots have been sitting idle on the sea floor for over a week, and the condition of what’s inside is a mystery.
Each pot they pull up is a step closer to knowing the fate of their catch. “String by string, if they do something great, if they fail, that’s going to be hard to recover from,” Hansen says, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of their work.
A Setback in the Midst of the Recovery
As the crew continues their work, another problem arises: a leak in the hose on the coiler. The coiler, an essential piece of equipment that helps spool the 450 feet of line on each pot, is vital for efficiency. “It takes 10 minutes to fix, and it will save us hours of hand coiling,” says one of the crew members. Fortunately, the issue is fixed quickly, and they are able to get back to work.
After the repair, the crew pulls up their first pot since the fire. “Are they alive?” one crew member asks as they begin to assess their haul. The answer is a joyous one: “Oh my God, thank you so much, Lord!” The pots are filled with crabs, and the crew is thrilled to see a decent catch after so much uncertainty.
“We’re looking at at least 350 crabs in this one,” one of the crew members remarks as they inspect the catch. The joy of a good haul is evident on the crew’s faces. For Captain Hansen, it’s a much-needed boost. “It’s tough because it feels like we’ve been behind the eight ball after that fire,” he admits. “But I’m thankful we saw a couple of decent numbers here. That’s the shot in the arm we needed.”
The Road Ahead
With the Northwestern back in action and the crew pulling in some decent catches, the mood shifts from uncertainty to optimism. As Captain Hansen reflects on the setbacks they’ve faced, he’s encouraged by the fact that they are back on track. “Whatever’s in the gear now is old news. The prospecting we did when we set the gear is what matters,” he says, shifting focus to the future and the work still ahead.
The Northwestern’s journey to recovery is far from over, but with the crew back on track and the boat’s systems back in order, there’s a sense of renewed hope. They are ready to face the challenges ahead, with the goal of finishing out the season strong and bringing in a successful catch.
