The Coast Guard cutter USCGC Bailey Barco rescued three hunters near Barlow Cove on Thursday afternoon, according to a USCG news release.
Sector Juneau watchstanders were contacted by the hunters just after noon on Thursday, reporting they had beached their boat approximately 15 miles northwest of Juneau as it was taking on water to prevent it from being fully lost, according to the news release.
“They struck a rock which resulted in a hole in their hull,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Janessa Warschkow, a Coast Guard public affairs specailist, in a phone interview. “They were only out there for about an hour before the Coast Guard arrived on scene.”
Once they contacted the Coast Guard over the radio, they were able to arrange rescue quickly, Warschkow said.
“Fortunately the hunters were prepared and able to get off the vessel and transfer supplies to shore, to shelter from the weather,” said Scott Cichoracki, a watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Juneau’s command center, in the news release. “We were able to quickly get crews on scene to assist the hunters.”
Weather on the scene was 34 degrees with 11 mph winds.
The Barco recovered the hunters with a small boat, and transferred them to a Sector Juneau’s 45-foot response boat-medium, who conveyed the hunters to Don D. Statter Harbor, according to the Coast Guard.
“They’re going to get the fuel off the boat tomorrow,” Warschkow said. “They’re currently working with their insurance company on (recovering the boat).”
No injuries or pollution were reported, according to the Coast Guard. The Barco is homeported in Ketchikan.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
