A whale-watching boat sank near Juneau Sunday afternoon, but all 18 people aboard made it safely to shore with the help of two other vessels in the area, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The 35-foot-long whale-watching vessel Big Red started taking on water in Favorite Channel, near Juneau, early Sunday afternoon, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Lauren Steenson. A crew member called the Coast Guard at 12:13 p.m., she said.
The boat was operated by Dolphin Jet Boat Tours, the Juneau Empire reported.
Before the Coast Guard could get to the scene, the See You, a recreational boat, and the St. Herman, an Allen Marine Tours boat, made it to the sinking whale-watching ship. The St. Herman took the 16 passengers and two crew members back to Juneau, Steenson said.
One passenger reported a knee injury.
Investigators are trying to determine what caused the whale-watching boat to sink, Steenson said.