Michael Edward Olney, 47, was aboard the fishing vessel Arctic Rose when it sank in the Bering Sea on April 2, 2001. The 92-foot trawler went down about 205 miles northwest of St. Paul Island in severe weather; winds were reported near 45 knots and waves up to 24 feet. The vessel disappeared without a mayday call and the Coast Guard was alerted when an emergency beacon activated.

The Coast Guard located the wreck on the ocean floor and, using a remotely operated vehicle, found an aft starboard door on the processing deck open, indicating the processing space was not watertight. Investigators concluded the ship s stability had never been reassessed after major modifications in 1999 and calculations suggested the Arctic Rose could have sunk in less than two minutes, which would explain the lack of a distress call. Only the captain’s body was recovered; Michael Olney and 13 other crewmembers are presumed lost at sea.

The disaster prompted an investigation that highlighted safety problems, including unverified stability after modifications and limited safety training among some crew, and contributed to changes in the Fishing Vessel Safety Act. If anyone knew Michael Olney or has information about the Arctic Rose’s final voyage, please share what can help the historical record.