This is the intense moment a dry bulk carrier navigates through choppy seas during a storm in Alaska.

Footage shows the 738ft cargo ship Pan Viva struggling against strong waves approximately 2.3 miles northeast of Unalaska on October 12.

The Panama-flagged vessel, facing winds of up to 58 knots and waves reaching 29ft, anchored securely.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been coordinating with state and local partners to ensure the safety of the 21 crew members aboard and to protect the marine environment from potential disaster.

An evacuation operation resulted in four crew members being airlifted to safety by a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter while the remaining crew stayed aboard the Pan Viva.

The incident coincided with a severe weather warning from the National Weather Service, which indicated a powerful low-pressure system over the Gulf of Alaska.

Despite the extreme conditions, the Pan Viva, en route from Dandong, China, to Kalama, Washington, reported no mechanical issues or environmental breaches.

The Coast Guard said in a statement: 'The Pan Viva remains at anchor. Weather is anticipated to subside [on Monday], and the vessel will assess weighing anchor.'

A bulk carrier, commonly referred to as a bulk freighter or a bulker, is a merchant vessel designed specifically for transporting unpackaged bulk commodities such as coal, grain, sugar, cement or other industry staples.

Since the introduction of the first specialised bulker in 1852, economic influences have fueled the continual advancement of the ships, resulting in greater size and complexity.

The ships play an essential role in the global economy by facilitating the transport of goods worldwide. There are even a number of investment funds or trusts that specialise in the maritime industry.