Coast Guard: 80 passengers taken off grounded Wash. whale watch boat; no injuries reported
By APThursday, July 16, 2009
80 passengers taken off grounded whale watch boat
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — The Coast Guard says a 65-foot whale-watching vessel carrying 80 passengers ran aground Wednesday evening north of Lopez Island in northwest Washington’s San Juan islands.
No injuries were reported, and damage to the vessel was minimal.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Colin White says several other boats took the passengers off the Odyssey to transport them to Friday Harbor.
Odyssey crew members reported the grounding at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
White says Coast Guardsmen from the patrol boat Swordfish responded and determined the Odyssey was taking on water at about a gallon per minute, but onboard pumps were dealing with the water. White says no pollution was evident.
The Coast Guard says the Odyssey floated free on the incoming tide at about 8:30 p.m. and headed for Friday Harbor.
