KODIAK, Alaska – Coast Guardsmen in Southeast Alaska assist three indivduals near Juneau and are responding to a grounded vessel near Ketchikan Friday.
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a 71-year-old woman from the cruise ship Zaandam near Glacier Bay. The 17th Coast Guard District command center watchstanders received a call from the captain of the cruise ship reporting she was suffering from a possible infection. The command center watchstanders directed the launch of the helicopter crew at 12:35 p.m.
The Jayhawk crew arrived on scene, safely hoisted the woman and transferred her to awaiting emergency medical personnel where she was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital for further medical treatment.
Earlier in the day, the same Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced a 65-year-old man from St. James Bay to Juneau, after reportedly suffering back and head injuries from a fall. The helicopter crew arrived in Juneau at 12 p.m. and safely transferred the man to awaiting emergency medical services and also toook him to Bartlett Regional Hospital for further medical care.
Two Coast Guard Station Juneau 25-foot Response Boat-Small crews and the same Jayhawk helicopter crew from the medevacs located a man possibly in distress after setting out from St. James Bay alone in a canoe. The man left St. James Bay at about 8:45 a.m. in transit to Auke Bay. Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders received a call from a concerned family member asking for assistance in locating the man since the weather conditions at that time were reported at two foot seas and 17 mph winds.
The man was located aboard a good Samaritan vessel and was transferred to a Station Juneau RB-S where he was reported in good condition and taken to shore.
Coast Guard Station Ketchikan and Marine Safety Detachment Ketchikan personnel responded to the 108-foot motor vessel Aleutian Ballad after the vessel struck a rock and sustained damage.
The grounding occurred during a wildlife tour south of Pennock Island with the Aleutian Ballad carrying 125 passengers and six crewmembers. No injuries or pollution was reported.
Sector Juneau watchstanders received notification at about 10 a.m. and directed a Coast Guard Station Ketchikan 25-foot RB-S crew to escort the Aleutian Ballad back to port. Upon its arrival, the vessel was met by Coast Guard investigators and inspectors.
All passengers were safely offloaded and the vessel is currently moored. The Aleutian Ballad will complete permanent repairs at the Ketchikan shipyard and those repairs will be completed prior to getting underway.
