The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(BOSTON) — A Station Boston 25-foot response boat towed a 40-foot tour boat with 33 people on board to the Mystic Fuel Pier in Boston Harbor at 12:21 p.m. today after the vessel lost steering.
There are no reports of any injuries. A pier manager at the launch ramp in Little Mystic River Channel noticed the boat operated by Super Duck Tours was having problems and called the Coast Guard at 11:48 p.m.
The Station Boston rescue boat arrived on scene at 11:57 p.m. and towed the boat to the fuel pier where all the passengers got off safely and were picked up by another vehicle operated by Super Duck Tours.
The disabled vessel last passed a Coast Guard inspection March 11, 2010. The vessel, delivered to the tour company in 2009, will not be allowed back into service until the mechanical problems are corrected and it must pass another Coast Guard inspection.
Coast Guard investigators from Sector Boston’s prevention division will also investigate why the vessel lost its ability to steer.
“We are glad everyone on the tour boat was able to get off safely,†said Petty Officer 1st Class Joaquin R. Alayoa, who works in the First Coast Guard District command center. “Luckily the vessel was close to shore and Station Boston when it lost its steering. We will work closely with the tour boat company to find out why this happened and make sure the boat is safe before it is allowed back into service.â€
