Tuesday, August 21, 2007

US Coast Guard Investigates Cruise Ship Grounding

Personnel from Coast Guard Sector Anchorage have been in Whittier today, conducting an investigation into an incident in which the cruise ship Spirit of Columbia ran aground. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage responded to a call from the Spirit of Columbia – a 143 foot Cruise West vessel - after it had run aground on the east side of Evans Island, in Latouche Passage, near Whittier, at approximately 9:53 a.m. Sunday.
Spirit of Columbia
There were 51 passengers and 21 crew members on board with no reported injuries. No pollution was reported, and no hull breach occurred. The Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore from Cordova, and two HH-60 helicopters and a C-130 aircraft from Kodiak were deployed to assist.
Spirit of Columbia reported no damage had occurred and Coast Guard air assets were released from scene. The Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore then escorted the Spirit of Columbia back to Whittier. Weather conditions on scene at the time of the grounding were 2 - 4 foot seas and visibility at 4 - 6 miles.

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