Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Seventeenth District

Date: July 7, 2008
Contact: Public Affairs
Phone: 907-463-2065

 

SPIRIT OF GLACIER BAY GROUNDED, COAST GUARD RESPONDING

JUNEAU, Alaska -- The Coast Guard is responding to the 178-foot Spirit of Glacier Bay after grounding in Tarr Inlet near Glacier Bay National Park with 51 people aboard at approximately 7:45 a.m. today. At this time there is no compromise to the hull and no injuries reported.

The Coast Guard has launched two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters from Air Station Sitka, a 47-foot motor life boat and a 25-foot response boat from Station Juneau, and launched the 110-foot Coast Guard Cutter Liberty, from Auke Bay, to assist the cruise ship Spirit of Glacier Bay. The Glacier Bay National Park Service vessel Fairweather II Express is enroute to assist.

Boom is being deployed around the vessel as a precaution.

The Spirit of Glacier Bay is homeported in Juneau and owned by Cruise West Enterprises.

A Coast Guard inspector and investigator are also enroute via commercial float plane.

Current weather conditions are clear skies and calm seas.

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