On Christmas Eve, a 50-year-old mother and her three children (ages 21, 17, and 13) were aboard a 15-foot vessel when it capsized off the west coast of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska.  At 2300 hours, a friend reported to the United States Coast Guard that the family’s vessel was overdue to return.   Coast Guard watchstanders launched a helicopter aircrew from Air Station Sitka and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Bailey Barco to conduct a search and rescue.

After capsizing, the shipwrecked mariners swam to shore near the entrance of Necker Bay.  On Christmas Day, they used a VHF radio to communicate a distress signal to the Coast Guard helicopter.  All four boaters were located and airlifted to safety.  They were reported to be in stable condition at Air Station Sitka.

BOATLAW, LLP has represented injured recreational boaters throughout the pacific northwest for over forty years.  The firm’s admiralty lawyers have a unique understanding of the perils faced by these mariners.

Source: Maritime Executive