KODIAK, Alaska — The Coast Guard responded to a vessel taking on water 30 miles southwest of Valdez Sunday.
A Coast Guard Sector Anchorage watchstander received a report at 8:31 p.m. that a 22-foot pleasure craft with five people aboard was taking on water through their exhaust manifold. The Coast Guard launched a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew, forward located in Cordova, and a 45-foot Response Boat – Medium and crew from Coast Guard Station Valdez.
The Dolphin crew arrived on scene at 9:13 p.m. Two good Samaritans were also on scene assisting the vessel in distress with dewatering pumps. The vessel was no longer taking on water.
The Station Valdez RB-M crew arrived on scene at 9:40 p.m., relieved the Dolphin crew and took the disabled pleasure craft in tow. The vessel was moored in Valdez without further incident at 2 a.m.
“The Coast Guard would like to remind all boaters to make sure they have all of the proper safety equipment on board before they set sail,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Lauren Brady, a watchstander at Sector Anchorage. “Thanks to the quick response of our Coast Guard crews and the assistance of other mariners, the crew aboard the pleasure craft made it safely back to port.”
The Station Valdez RB-M crew also responded to a galley fire aboard a 111-foot fishing vessel two hours after returning to Valdez. The fishing vessel crew safely extinguished the galley fire and returned to Valdez under their own power. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
