Aleutian Ballad Strikes Rock
The 36-meter long former fishing vessel Aleutian Ballad struck a rock while off Pennock Island. The Aleutian Ballad was on a wildlife tour with 125 passengers and 6 crewmen when it struck bottom. The vessel contacted the Coast Guard which deployed its 25-foot vessel out of Ketchikan to escort the Aleutian Ballad back to port. Both vessels reached port without issue and all passengers were safely offloaded. The Coast Guard conducted an investigation and inspection of the Aleutian Ballad. The vessel will complete repairs at the Ketchikan shipyard. No reports of injuries or pollution being released. The Aleutian Ballad is best known for fishing for crab in the Bering Sea when it was struck by a 60-foot rogue wave and capsized. Afterwards, the Aleutian Ballad was converted to give tours in waters near Ketchikan, Alaska.
