By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Alaska State Troopers said with the sunken charter vessel Awakin raised and towed back to town, no further updates will be given on the accident that left three people dead and two still missing.
“Search efforts are based on a limited, reactive basis,” Troopers said in its Dispatches web page, with a notice to readers of “FINAL UPDATE,” it read. “If new clues or information are reported to law enforcement search efforts will be evaluated at that time.”
Troopers said the Coast Guard investigation into the accident is ongoing, “with the goal to determine the timeline and cause of the incident and provide necessary feedback.”
The bodies of three of the charter boat passengers – Maury Agcaoili, 57, and partner Danielle Agcaoili, 53, both of Waipahu, Hawaii, and Danielle’s sister Brandi Tyau, 56, of Canoga Park, California – have been recovered. Passenger Robert Solis of California and skipper Morgan Robidou of Sitka remain missing.
The 30-foot aluminum boat with the five aboard was reported overdue the evening of May 28. A Coast Guard helicopter was launched for a search, and around 7 p.m. located the boat, with only the bow above water, off Low Island, 10 miles southwest of Sitka. The helicopter recovered Maury Agcaoili’s body in the water nearby.
An intensive search was started for the missing, but it was suspended May 29. The bodies of the sisters were recovered from the sunken boat May 31.
Hanson Maritime of Sitka was in charge of raising and towing the vessel to town on Saturday.
Lee Hanson, owner of Hanson Maritime, said the raising of the boat went well. Divers used four 6,000-pound inflation bags, and four 2,000-pound inflation bags, which was more than enough to raise the vessel.
The Awakin was kept partially submerged for the tow to preserve the electronics, Hanson said. The tow took about four hours, he said.
The vessel was towed back to town on Saturday by the tugboat Salvation and taken to the Hanson dock at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park, where it was hauled out with a crane. Plans call for it to be moved to an indoor facility this evening, for further investigation.
The charter boat Awakin is pictured behind a fence Monday as authorities try to determine the cause of a fatal accident that happened over the Memorial Day weekend. (Sentinel Photo)
