USCG File Photo
SEATTLE- A Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles crew hoisted three mariners after vessel ran aground near Boulder Island, Wash., Saturday.
The three mariners, who were aboard a 46-foot recreational vessel, climbed onto rocks and were they were safely hoisted and transported to Paine Field, a small international airport in Everett.
A Coast Guard Station Bellingham boat crew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, was underway in the area and witnessed the incident. They remained at the location during the helicopter hoist as a precautionary measure.
Both the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and the RB-M crews were searching the area because of a derelict kayak found on the south end of Lopez Island. The crews reported that the recreational vessel nearly ran into the RB-M prior to running aground and taking on water.
No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.
A Coast Guard Incident Management Team is currently on scene and monitoring the aground vessel in the event of pollution. There is no reported fuel spill at this time but there is a potential for a maximum spill of 200 gallons of gasoline.
Weather at the time of the incident was reported as 20-knot winds and 3-foot seas.
