South Korean vessel heads toward Bering Sea, where fishing ship sank and at least 27 died

Rear Adm. Dan Abel, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska, left, speaks to reporters on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, in Juneau, Alaska. Pictured on the right is Moon Duk-ho, a representative of the South Korean government. The two men spoke about response efforts following the sinking of a South Korean fishing vessel in the western Bering Sea. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer) (The Associated Press)

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Moon Duk-ho, a representative of the South Korean government, speaks to reporters on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, in Juneau, Alaska. Rear Adm. Dan Abel, left, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska listens on. The two men spoke about response efforts following the sinking of a South Korean fishing vessel in the western Bering Sea. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer) (The Associated Press)

Rear Adm. Dan Abel, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska, speaks with reporters on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, in Juneau, Alaska, about the agency response to a South Korean fishing vessel that sank in the western Bering Sea. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer) (The Associated Press)

JUNEAU, Alaska – A South Korean vessel is on pace to arrive Friday in the west Bering Sea, where a fishing ship sank, killing at least 27 people.

The commander of the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska, Rear Adm. Dan Abel, said the Sambong was moving toward the area faster than expected.

The Coast Guard has been on the scene and involved in the search effort since Dec. 1. It plans to remain involved in search and rescue planning once South Korean officials take over.

South Korea also is basing search planes out of Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.

Seven people survived the sinking of the Oryong 501. Abel said the remains of 27 people have been recovered, while another 26 remain unaccounted for.