BARANOFWIND

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Disabled tour boat assisted by cruise ship Noordam

On June 10, 2015, the "Baranof Wind" broke down in the vicinity of Jaw Point at Glacier Bay. The Holland America Line’s "Noordam" assisted the 41 persons on board the disabled sightseeing boat. Captain van Donselaar responded to a call for aid at approximately 12:35 p.m. LT to assist the vessel which was experiencing mechanical troubles near Johns Hopkins Glacier. The cruise ship lowered a tender, which collected 40 tourists and one Glacier Bay National Park ranger and returned to the mother ship. Following s lunch onboard the "Noordam", the sightseers were brought to Bartlett Cove, where the "Baranof Wind" excursion originated, at approximately 5:30 p.m. The "Noordam" then sailed for its next port of call, Ketchikan, Alaska, where it arrived on June 11. The "Noordam" was in the middle of a seven-day Alaska cruise that sailed roundtrip from Vancouver on June 6. Report with photos: http://cruise-addicts.com/holland-america-lines-ms-noordam-comes-to-the-rescue-of-40-sightseers-and-a-park-ranger-in-glacier-bay-alaska/

Grounding occurred due to bear watching

The master of the "Baranof Wind" which struck a rock at Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve had been trying to get the vessel nearer shore to see brown bears. The captain, after trying to maneuver closer to shore so passengers could see the one or more bears that had been spotted, at some point realized he was in shallower water and started to back up. But it was along a different track than the boat came in on, and the "Baranof Wind" apparently hit a rock on Aug 19, 2012. The stability of the vessel was not considered to be in jeopardy but given that some water was coming in, the primary concern was making sure everyone was safe. Two passengers, including one who had been injured, were taken aboard a National Park Service vessel. The crew remained on board. The mishap occurred during the first half of what's typically an eight-hour cruise, billed in a promotional flier as an opportunity to see "magnificent tidewater glaciers, ancient snow-capped mountains," and a range of wildlife, including whales and coastal bears. The vessel was being brought to Sitka, where Allen Marine Tours has a shipyard. The company plans its own investigation. Report with photos: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1519575/Photo-Release-Multiple-agencies-respond-to-vessel-taking-on-water-in-Glacier-Bay

Struck rock, 72 passengers evacuated, Alaska

Coast Guard Sector Juneau August 19: The Coast Guard, the National Park Service, and the Holland America cruise ship Volendam responded to a report from the sightseeing vessel Baranof Winds with 72 passengers after it reportedly struck a rock and started taking on water in Glacier Bay on August 19 2012. The Coast Guard launched an Air Station Sitka helicopter crew with a dewatering pump and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa to assist the Baranof Winds crew. The Volendam crew transferred 70 people from the Baranof Winds to their vessel, two people were taken aboard a National Park Service boat and four crewmembers remained aboard the Baranof Winds to maintain pumps and to ensure it stays afloat. The Baranof Winds reports that the flooding has been contained and an anchor was deployed to help stabilize the vessel. There are no reports of pollution. Coast Guard Sector Juneau is working with Allen Marine to develop a towing plan to deliver the Baranof Winds to Sitka, Alaska. The crew of the Volendam will transport the Baranof Winds passengers to Bartlett Cove where they will be transferred to another Allen Marine vessel and returned to Juneau.