Diver must enter freezing water to save engine | Deadliest Catch

A Life-or-Death Struggle on the High Seas: A Captain’s Race Against Time to Save His Crew

In the treacherous waters of the Bering Sea, even the smallest problem can spiral into a disaster. For the crew of the Summer Bay, this was a harsh reality when a seemingly simple issue—an entangled cable—became a race against time to prevent disaster.

While navigating over 500 miles away from port, disaster struck: a cable became entangled in the ship’s propeller, causing one of the engines to seize. With only one motor running, the situation quickly became critical. The waters were growing colder, the waves more dangerous, and the threat of ice moving in was a very real concern. As the current threatened to push the ship off course, the captain, Bill, knew they could not afford to drift in these perilous conditions. The mission now was to free the propeller or risk losing the entire season.

The crew scrambled to try every possible technique to untangle the cable, but nothing seemed to work. They even tried to use the ship’s mechanical tools to loosen the propeller, but the cable was stubborn, refusing to budge. The situation grew more urgent. Without the propeller working, the Summer Bay would be at the mercy of the sea, unable to return to port or complete their fishing haul. In a region where ice and towering waves could sink a ship in moments, drifting with no propulsion was simply not an option.

As the temperature dropped and the storm clouds gathered, Captain Bill knew he had one choice left—send a diver down to cut the cable free. However, this was not as simple as it sounded. The crew had no diving equipment on board, and even if they did, the conditions were dangerous. The idea of a diver going into the frigid waters, with the ship potentially rolling in the waves, was a terrifying prospect.

Through quick thinking and a series of calls to the shore, Captain Bill was able to locate a diver in São Paulo. The diver, a seasoned professional named Guilherme Krauss, was ready to descend into the icy depths to resolve the issue. With no time to waste, Bill arranged for the diver to be flown in, as he raced to prepare the necessary equipment.

The stakes were high, as every minute counted. If the diver didn’t succeed, the Summer Bay would be stranded for an entire week, a devastating setback that could ruin the season. With no other choice, the crew prepared for the operation, knowing that the diver’s success or failure would determine their fate.

The operation to free the cable was nerve-wracking. The diver was lowered into the freezing water, equipped with nothing more than a knife to cut the cable free. The tension was palpable as the crew watched, unable to communicate with the diver in real-time. The situation was further complicated by the fact that no other ships could be allowed in the bay while the operation took place. The danger of another vessel colliding with the diver was too great.

As the diver worked tirelessly to cut through the tangled mess, the crew on board used a hammer to communicate how much time was left before the diver needed to surface for air. Every passing moment felt like an eternity, with the crew anxiously waiting for any sign of success.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the diver surfaced. The cable had been cut free, and the propeller was once again functional. The Summer Bay was ready to sail, albeit at a slower pace, back to port. The crew had narrowly escaped disaster, and the operation had saved their season.

In the aftermath, Captain Bill expressed his gratitude to the crew and the diver. “You guys saved our season,” he said, his voice filled with relief. “You all deserve a big dinner when we get back.”

As the ship slowly made its way home, the crew knew they had just dodged a bullet. The journey back would still be a long one, but at least they were no longer at the mercy of the sea. For the crew of the Summer Bay, this harrowing experience was a stark reminder of the dangers they faced every day, but also of their resilience and teamwork in the face of overwhelming odds.

The success of the diver’s efforts, combined with the courage of the captain and crew, ensured that the Summer Bay would return to port—its season, and its crew, intact.