The Associated Press • Published July 25, 2008 A federal investigation of why the Alaska Ranger sank in the Bering Sea after the fishing vessel lost power on Easter Sunday and then went into reverse has led the Coast Guard to issue a safety warning to ship owners about controllable-pitch propellers. "Sitting on this for six months is against the interest of marine safety," said Capt. Mike Rand, chairman of the Marine Board of Investigation. "That's why we got it out right away." A final report on the incident aboard the Seattle-based catcher-processor boat, in which five of 47 crewmen died, is expected in about six months. Nationwide, hundreds of seagoing vessels have controllable-pitch propulsion systems, which allow the angle of the propeller blades to be adjusted to improve efficiency and directional control. "The Coast...
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