A Routine Voyage Turns Tragic

On April 25, 1998, the fishing vessel Evanick departed Kodiak, Alaska, en route to Togiak. Among the crew was 35-year-old Harry Modesette, a seasoned fisherman known in the Kodiak community. The voyage was expected to be routine, but tragedy struck when the vessel encountered rough seas in the Shelikof Strait. A skiff secured on deck shifted, causing the Evanick to capsize .

The Crew and the Aftermath

All four crew members aboard the Evanick were lost: skipper Carl VanValkenberg, Robert Ritchie, Shawn R. Gibson, and Harry Modesette . Despite search and rescue efforts, none of the crew were recovered, and they are presumed deceased. The incident was one of several maritime tragedies in Alaska's commercial fishing industry that year....Read More