Hansen started as a deckhand on his father's boat before his teenage years, working his way up the ranks and proving himself as a capable deckhand and steady presence at sea at an age when most young men his age were making their way through junior high and high school. At 22, he began relieving captains on the Northwestern as well as doing short-haul captain's stints on other boats in the fleet. By 24, Hansen began running the Northwestern full time. Over the years, the Northwestern has been a top producer with an excellent safety record; the Northwestern has never had a single death at sea in the nearly 20 years Hansen has been at its helm, and its serious injury rate is significantly lower than other boats in the Bering Sea fleet as well. The Northwestern won the final derby seasons for King crab (2005) and opilio crab (2006), taking home the titles for both the highest poundage caught and the highest dollars earned between the featured boats in the Deadliest Catch. Hansen continues to be a force on the Bering Sea today.
Currently, Hansen serves as the full-time captain during King and opilio crab seasons as well as the Pot cod fishery on the Northwestern. His youngest brother, Edgar, works as the Engineer and Deck boss. Norman, the middle brother, returned to the boat as a deckhand.
In March, 2010 Sig Hansen became a published author with the release of his book (co-written with Mark Sundeen) North By Northwestern: A Seafaring Family on Deadly Alaskan Waters, which reached the bestseller lists of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Friday, September 24, 2010
7:30pm
Ives Concert Hall
Western Connecticut State Mid-Town Campus
Danbury, CT
Tickets - $29 each
To select the seats you want call the box office (203) 837-8499 (tixx) or buy online www.wcsu.edu/tickets
Meet and Greet Reception - $100.00
Please note that there is a limit to only 50 people and the tickets for the Meet and Greet must be purchased by phone only.
Tickets available at www.wcsu.edu/tickets or
call the box office (203) 837-8499 (tixx)