Cruise ship takes on passengers from stricken Alaska cat

AUGUST 20, 2012 — The Coast Guard, National Park Service, and the Holland America Line cruise ship Volendam assisted 76 people from a sightseeing catamaran that was taking on water in Glacier Bay, Alaska, Sunday, after reportedly striking a rock.

The Coast Guard launched an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew with a dewatering pump and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa to assist the crew of the 79 ft Baranof Wind, which is owned by Ketchikan headquartered Allen Marine Tours.

The Volendam crew transferred 70 people from the Baranof Wind to the cruise ship, two people were taken aboard a National Park Service boat and four crew members remained aboard the Baranof Wind to maintain pumps.

The Baranof Wind later reported that the flooding had been contained and an anchor deployed to help stabilize the vessel. There are no reports of pollution at this time.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau yesterday said that it was sending response personnel to investigate the cause of the grounding and pollution potential and was working with Allen Marine to develop a towing plan to deliver the Baranof Wind to Sitka,.

“The Coast Guard would like to thank the crew of the Volendam, the National Parks Service personnel, and the other Good Samaritans for taking immediate action to aid the passengers and crew of the Baranof Wind,” said Scott Giard, a Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstander. “Their quick assistance ensured everyone was quickly accounted for and transferred to safety.”