Fuel Dock Feud Erupts in Dutch Harbor: Northwestern and Wizard Clash Before Red Crab Season
Tensions flared at Dutch Harbor this week as two of the Bering Sea’s most iconic crab boats — the Northwestern and the Wizard — locked horns in a heated standoff at the fuel dock just days before red crab season.
The confrontation, involving Captain Mandy Hansen of the Northwestern and Captain Keith Colburn of the Wizard, unfolded as both vessels raced to fuel and prepare for the perilous journey west. With only 72 hours before departure and more than 46,000 pounds of crab quota left to catch, patience was in short supply — and tempers were even shorter.
Storm Brewing Over the Dock
Witnesses say the trouble began when the Northwestern, captained by Mandy Hansen while her father, legendary skipper Sig Hansen, remained in Adak scouting for crab, arrived at the dock to take on fuel. To the crew’s frustration, the Wizard was already tied up — and wasn’t budging.
“We scheduled this spot days ago,” Mandy radioed firmly, while Captain Keith Colburn replied that his vessel couldn’t move due to “rudder post repairs and an oil change.”
The exchange escalated quickly. Mandy, under pressure to depart before an incoming storm, made a bold call — to tie up alongside the Wizard and move the rival vessel herself.
“If Keith Won’t Move, We’ll Move Him”
In a move that stunned dockworkers, the Northwestern crew threw lines across and began shifting the Wizard out of the way, maneuvering the two massive boats within feet of each other.
“Get ready with those lines,” Mandy commanded over the radio. “If Keith doesn’t want to move his boat, we’ll move it for him.”
By the time Captain Colburn was alerted, the Wizard was already swinging out from the dock. His disbelief quickly turned to restrained fury.
“This is not acceptable,” he said over the radio, his voice calm but cutting. “I’ll leave it at that.”
A Clash of Legends and Leadership
For Captain Mandy Hansen, helming her family’s vessel for the first time on the Northwestern’s red crab run was already a high-pressure task. With her father scouting new grounds and a storm on the horizon, the dock dispute added another layer of stress.
“It’s a lot of responsibility and it’s nerve-wracking,” Mandy admitted earlier that day. “I just want to make sure everything’s right and tight before we head out.”
Meanwhile, Captain Colburn is still recovering from a mini-stroke that sidelined him the previous winter. Determined to reduce stress and avoid another medical emergency, he told his brother Monty that this season would be about caution — not confrontation. But on the docks, old rivalries proved hard to tame.
An Uneasy Truce on the Eve of the Storm
After the altercation, the Northwestern managed to refuel and push off, while the Wizard remained dockside to finish repairs. The two captains exchanged no further words, though crew members described the mood as “icy” and “unresolved.”
“Keith didn’t even throw a fit,” one Northwestern deckhand said afterward. “I don’t know if that’s better — or worse.”
As both boats prepare to face treacherous Bering Sea conditions in pursuit of their quotas, one thing is certain: the season hasn’t even begun, and the rivalries are already at full boil.
Sidebar: Colburn’s Health Scare Adds to Season’s Uncertainty
Veteran Wizard captain Keith Colburn, a 20-year staple of the fleet, continues to recover from a health scare that nearly ended his career last season. “It was a mini-stroke,” he revealed. “I have to minimize my stress this year — I’m not flying out on a medevac again.”
His brother Monty Colburn will share command duties as the Wizard attempts another comeback after years of mechanical setbacks and grueling seasons.
Quote of the Day
“It’s a fuel dock, not a shipyard. Let’s move you.”
— Captain Mandy Hansen, Northwestern