JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard and good Samaritans rescued two people from a vessel taking on water near Ketchikan, Alaska, Wednesday.
A Coast Guard response boat-medium crew from Station Ketchikan transported the two passengers from the fishing vessel Velvet to Ketchikan after they were rescued from their sinking boat by the crew of the fishing vessel William.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center received a distress call from the passengers of the Velvet when their boat ran aground and began to take on water in Mclean Arm southeast of Prince of Wales Island. A response boat-medium crew from Station Ketchikan and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka were launched to rescue the passengers while the crew of the nearby vessel William responded to the scene. The passengers of the Velvet transferred to the William to await Coast Guard personnel.
“The Coast Guard appreciates members of the community for using their time and resources to aid fellow mariners in their time of need,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Wesley Shipley, a watchstander at the Sector Juneau command center. “This case illustrates how invaluable good Samaritans are to the Coast Guard and boating community.”
The weather on scene was reported as overcast with 17-mile per hour winds and seas less than 4 feet.
Personnel from Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Ketchikan are monitoring the vessel and plan to contact the owner about developing a salvage plan.