FV Northern Belle

FV Northern Belle was a fishing vessel that sank in the Gulf of Alaska on April 20, 2010. Three of her four crew were rescued alive; her captain, Robert Royer, died before rescue teams arrived.

Upon discovery that the EPIRB (Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon) was not operational, Captain Robert Royer returned to the bridge to send a distress call, believed to have saved the other crew members. Royer suffered a major head injury trying to jump overboard, and was found with no vital signs when the US Coastguard arrived.