Blog Post


COAST GUARD RESPONDS TO SINKING VESSEL NEAR VALDEZ ALASKA

Posted by: James M. Beard
September 17, 2009
Topic: Vessel Sinkings

The Coast Guard reported that its Anchorage rescue center received a distress call from the charter vessel LONESTAR that a 20 foot jet boat with two crewmembers onboard was taking on water and had no radios to call for help and no pump equipment on board to stop the flooding.

The Coast Guard's Anchorage Rescue Center immediately dispatched a response vessel from its Valdez station to assist the sinking boat. The response vessel passed dewatering pumps to the jet boat but the crewmembers were unable to deflood the vessel before the engines shut down and the boat began drifting towards nearby rocks.

Coast Guard personnel boarded the jet boat and was able to assist, utilizing the boats kicker engine and the guide the boat to deeper water. The boat was then escorted by the Coast Guard back to the Valdez Harbor.