Coast Guard Assists Spirit of Columbia

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage responded to a call from the cruise ship Spirit of Columbia after it ran aground on the east side of Evans Island in Latouche Passage, near Whittier on Sunday. There were 51 passengers and 21 crew members on board with no reported injuries. No pollution was reported, and no hull breach occurred.

The Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore from Cordova, and two HH-60 helicopters and a C-130 aircraft from Kodiak were deployed to assist. Spirit of Columbia reported no damage had occurred and Coast Guard air assets were released from scene. The Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore escorted the Spirit of Columbia back to Whittier. Weather conditions on scene at the time of the grounding were 2 - 4 ft. seas and visibility at 4 - 6 miles. Personnel from Coast Guard Sector Anchorage are in Whittier conducting an investigation of the incident. The Spirit of Columbia is 143-ft. Cruise West vessel.