RISKY WATERS Deadliest Catch’s Sig Hansen reveals ‘life-threatening’ moment that he ‘thought we were at the point of no return’

Series lead Sig Hansen, 58, captain and co-owner of the fishing vessel F/V Northwestern, revealed that weather is a constant struggle for him and his crew while on the Bering Sea during an interview with Fox News Digital.

He told the outlet,”I mean, there’s always a challenge. The challenge is to succeed, right?

“There are life-threatening situations – been in a few of those. I think the biggest challenge is always the weather. That’s always a big one and keeping your guys motivated, that’s always a big challenge.”

“You know, and finding crab. It’ll happen, it just takes time, but it’ll happen. Especially if you’re good and you know what you’re doing.”

Hansen has experienced several life-threatening situations as Captain of the Northwestern.

“We’ve had events where the boat was icing down to the point where I thought there was no return,” he explained.

Hansen continued, “We’ve had struggles with mechanical issues where, you know, we’ve had, like, tanks where our crab tanks either fill with water when they’re not supposed to, and that creates instability on the boat. Things of that nature.

“There’s been many challenges and there were challenges where I’ve seen boats literally go down. You know, eight miles away from me, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” he continued.

“You watch people and friends that you know, and you’re literally in the fog. They’re right over there and there’s nothing I can do about it, and they’re gone. I think that’s a godd–n challenge,” he added.

Season 20 will see Captain Jake Anderson return to Hansen’s Northwestern as a greenhorn after he lost his own boat

.

Season 20 will see Jake Anderson return to Hansen’s Northwestern as a greenhorn

The new season will also follow Sophia “Bob” Nielsen as she takes the helm of the F/V Seabrooke and Johnathan Hillstrand as he comes out of retirement and attempts to reach a $1 million quota.

It will also see cast member, Jacob Hutchins fighting to win the relief captain spot on Rick Shelford’s F/V Aleutian Lady.

TWENTY SEASONS

Hansen attributed Deadliest Catch’s successes to being multi-generational, even though the show was never intended to be for the entire family.

“Number one, It’s blue collar and there’s a work ethic and I think people respect that. I think the show’s successful because, through time, the photography’s better, the cameras are better, the people that record what we do are better, and I think that it shows,” Hansen said.

Hansen admitted, “My wife and I watch what they film, and she just can’t believe it. She’s like, ‘Oh my God, I feel like I’m in it.’”

The ship captain continued, “Twenty years ago, that was not the case. So, I think it brings you closer; it brings you into our living room, and I think it’s successful because it’s multi-generational. Grandma, grandpa watches, grandson, granddaughter. It’s just multi-generational, and I’ve said it before, ‘This was not meant to be a family program.’

He confessed, “We do have foul language. We do horrible things that should not be done, and families watch it together. It ain’t a family program, but that’s what it turned out to be.”

REWARDING ENDEAVOR

Hansen stated that being the captain of the F/V Northwestern for the last 20 seasons has made him recognizable “everywhere on the planet.”

He revealed what’s most rewarding “Is the fact that when people come up to me, and they say, ‘You know what? You inspire me. I was in the hospital and I watched your show, and I sucked it up.’”

“When people tell me that they’re inspired by us, that’s rewarding. Or if I go to a fundraiser and I make oodles of money for a certain cause because I used my fame to do it, that’s pretty godd**n rewarding,” he added.

Deadliest Catch premiered in 2005, and even though the show was projected to make it 10 years, Hansen revealed that he now feels like the series is running on “autopilot.”

“What goes through my mind is like, you take some things for granted. I know that’s not just me, but everybody takes it for granted because they’re supposed to be there,” he said.

“It’s just crazy because everywhere I go, whether it’s young or old, It’s like this generational tie. There’s a generational knot that puts people together, and it just blows my mind,” Hansen said.Season 20 will document Sophia ‘Bob’ Nielsen’s challenges as she takes the helm of the F/V Seabrooke

Johnathan Hillstrand has come out of retirement in an attempt to reach a $1 million quota

Jacob Hutchins will also fight for the relief captain spot on Rick Shelford’s F/V Aleutian Lad