Coast Guard rescues passengers from stricken Alaska ferry
The U.S. Coast Guard has safely removed 86 passengers and non-essential crew members from the Alaska ferry 'LeConte,' which went aground Monday in the Peril Strait about 30 miles north of Sitka, Alaska.
A Coast Guard helicopter flew two passengers with possible back injuries to Sitka. The other passengers were transferred to two Allen Marine catamarans.
The ferry, with 109 people on board, was said to have struck rocks near Cozian Reef and began taking in water. As the tide receded, the vessel was dewatered but continued to list at 10 degrees. No pollution occurred in the grounding, the Coast Guard said in a statement.