Grounded boat prompts probe

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Coast Guard plans to evaluate the seaworthiness of a charter boat that ran aground in Southeast Alaska waters during a whale watching excursion.

Coast Guard officials said a marine inspector will evaluate the condition of the Friday Harbor, Wash.-based Catalyst today in Petersburg, Alaska, where the whale-watching voyage began.

There were no injuries among the nine passengers and four crew members aboard the 75-foot vessel, which ran aground Tuesday west of Robert Island, about 68 miles from Juneau. A Coast Guard helicopter saw no evidence of pollution.

A Coast Guard cutter escorted the Catalyst to Petersburg, arriving early Wednesday.

Lt. Kalen Kenny says the captain piloted the charter boat to the town while the rest of the crew and passengers made the journey in the cutter.