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By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press Writer Washington (AP) A fishing boat that sank last year in the Bering Sea off the Alaska coast apparently lost its rudder, then flooded and went down.

That's what investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board think happened to the Alaska Ranger in March of 2008. Five of the 47 crew members died when the boat went to the bottom of the sea where the vessel now lies, unexamined.

The board is holding a hearing on the incident and plans to issue a report later Wednesday on the investigation by the agency's staff.

The accident led the Coast Guard to issue a safety warning to ship owners about contRollable-pitch propellers. Nationwide, hundreds of seagoing vessels have such propulsion systems which allow the angle of the propeller blades to be adjusted to improve efficiency and directional control.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-30-09 1038CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list