Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat (Aug 28/00) - Two men are dead and two more still missing after the 14-metre vessel, the Avataq, sank early Friday morning.

The vessel had been on its way to Arviat from Churchill, Manitoba, when it was caught in high winds and rough seas late Thursday evening.

The Avataq was manned by captain and owner, Louie Pilakapsi, and three crew members, Larry Ussak, Sandy Sateana and David Kudjuk.

All four men are from Rankin Inlet.

Shawn Maley has been co-ordinating search and rescue (SAR) efforts from Rankin Inlet.

"The Rescue Co-ordination Centre's (RCC, Kingston, Ont.) position at this time is that they're still looking for two survivors and a life-raft," says Maley.

"The Avataq's life-raft is designed to withstand a lot more severe weather than what we've seen the past few days.

"They are conducting their search for two survivors."

The body of Larry Ussak was recovered about 7:50 p.m. Friday evening by military helicopter.

Pilakapsi's body was located about 5:00 p.m. Saturday by Arviat marine SAR efforts.

Both men were wearing float suits.

The vessel's aluminum lifeboat was found floating empty, with no outboard motor attached, shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday morning.

When asked by Kivalliq News, Maley confirmed the Avataq's crew had been attempting to deliver construction materials to Arviat, with estimates placing the ship's cargo weight in the vicinity of 34,000 pounds.

The vessel was loaded with 20-, 40-, and 100-pound propane bottles, three crates of steel materials and a load of spacers for duplex construction.

"That's what we know was at the dock in Churchill and we're assuming that is what they loaded," says Maley.

The Avataq started taking on water in the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 25, about 10 miles southeast of Arviat.

Weather reports at the time show wind speed at 60 kilometres per hour, with gusts of up to 80.

The vessel was being pounded by 10 to 15-foot high waves.

Pilakapsi had notified Arviat by CB radio that his bilge pump wasn't working shortly after midnight and the last communication with the crew was at about 1:30 a.m., when Ussak radioed to say they were sinking.

Maley says SAR efforts have been hampered by high winds, low ceiling and rough seas all weekend.

"Marine SAR efforts were suspended yesterday (Sunday) due to bad weather.

"The RCC informs that as of the conclusion of the search efforts Saturday night, Arviat's small boats, the two tankers brought in Saturday and the aircraft involved have covered 16,757 square miles during search efforts."