55 Rescued From Grounded Nantucket Ferry

The Coast Guard teamed-up with local responders late Friday and early Saturday to rescue 55 people stranded aboard a high-speed ferry that hit a jetty while entering Hyannis Harbor.

The local fire department notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at about 9:30 p.m. Friday and reported that the Massachusetts Steamship Authority Ferry Iyanough, which serves Nantucket to Hyannis, struck the jetty and grounded on the rocks.

An HH-60 helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod medevacd five injured passengers and airlifted 10 uninjured people who were unable to navigate the jetty’s rocks to get aboard the response boats.

Response boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Woods Hole, Chatham, and Brant Point rescued the remaining passengers and ferry crewmembers. Multiple units from the Cape Cod Mutual Response System assisted with the rescue efforts.

“Rough seas and strong winds overnight challenged responders, but with the help of our local partners, our boat and aircrews were able to get all passengers to safety,” said Lt. Cmdr. Matt Baker, the chief of incident management at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England.

Six people, including the ferry’s captain, engineer, and Coast Guard marine inspectors remain aboard Iyanough. A tugboat and a commercial towboat company are also on scene.

The Steamship Authority says it tested six members of the crew for alcohol, and the results came back negative. The crew will also be tested for drugs.

The Coast Guard will work with the Steam Ship Authority to assess Iyanough’s damage, and ensure safe navigation in the area. The cause of the grounding is under investigation.

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