Nine passengers were rescued from a boat that ran aground near Juneau on Monday evening.
The 36-foot motor vessel Islander ran aground at Shelter Island just outside Auke Bay. Coast Guard Petty Officer Sara Mooers said there were no injuries and all passengers were transported off the boat by Good Samaritan vessels in the area. No fuel or oil was spotted in the area.
Coast Guard sector Juneau responded with a small boat crew to make sure there was no danger or further need for help, Mooers said.
“We did send Coast Guard Station Juneau, one of our small boats, out to put eyes on the scene and confirm there was no distress and that there’s no pollution,” Mooers said. “They will investigate the grounding as well, our marine safety personnel from Juneau.”
“They’ll touch base with the vessel when it’s back in port and make sure there’s no significant damage and if there is, that it gets dealt with accordingly.”
The petty officer said the boat captain stayed with the vessel and plans to refloat it at high tide with the assistance of a salvage company.
Mooers did not know if the boat was sailing as part of a commercial tour.
Coast guard documentation show the boat is privately owned by a Juneau doctor as of March of this year, although the Islander is also listed as part of the fleet with Alaska Galore Tours, a whale, bear and glacier tour operator in Juneau.
