News Release: Coast Guard searching for unconfirmed persons in the water east of Whittier, Alaska

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska Contact: 17th District Public Affairs Office: (907) 428-4140 After Hours: (907) 227-9248 17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard searching for unconfirmed persons in the water east of Whittier, Alaska

 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard is searching Monday for unconfirmed persons in the water after a small boat with nobody aboard was found adrift east of Whittier.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Anchorage are trying to track down the owner of a 10-foot, blue and gray Zodiak that was found adrift in Passage Canal containing cat food, presumably for shrimp bait, along with other fishing gear, line and oars.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak, a response boat crew from Station Valdez and an Auxiliary crew out of Whittier to search for potential persons in the water associated with the boat.

No distress has been reported to the Coast Guard.

"We're responding as though there is a person or people in the water who fell out of this boat and need our help," said Mike McNeil, command duty officer at Sector Anchorage. "Anyone with information about this boat, please contact the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center immediately at 907-428-4100."

The boat does not have a motor and there are no identifying numbers on the hull.

It was first reported to the Coast Guard at approximately 7:30 a.m.

 

-USCG-