Coast Guard, Alaska troopers rescue crew after tugboat grounds

The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:

(JUNEAU, Alaska) — A Coast Guard cutter John McCormick small boat crew and an Alaska State Trooper boat crew rescued four people from the tug 18 Eagles after it ran aground on Vitskari Rocks, near Sitka, on Saturday.

The McCormick and AST crews arrived on scene and dewatered the tug. The AST crew towed the tug and crew to Sitka.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau watch standers received a report on VHF-FM radio Channel 16 from the tug crew that they had run aground and were taking on water. Watch standers directed the launch of the McCormick's small boat crew.

"Thankfully the tug crew had a radio on board and were able to ask for help," said Lt. j.g. Collin McClelland, a Sector Juneau command duty officer. "Working with the Troopers we were able to get them safely back to shore."

The weather on scene was reported as calm seas and 9-mph winds.

McCormick is the Coast Guard's 21st fast response cutter and the first one home-ported west of the Mississippi River. The FRC was commissioned in Ketchikan, Alaska, on April 12.

By Professional Mariner Staff