The U.S. Coast Guard along with partner agencies responded Tuesday to a report of multiple injuries after the Bald Head Island Ferry Adventure ran hard aground in the vicinity of Battery Island near Southport, North Carolina.
The USCG reports that the crew of the 64-foot ferry Adventure contacted Coast Guard Station Oak Island at approximately 9 a.m. reporting they ran aground and passengers aboard were in need of medical assistance. The watchstanders dispatched crews aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat and a 25-foot Response Boat – Small from Station Oak Island and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Bayberry to assist.
The Coast Guard says the crew of the Bayberry used a shallow water skiff to medevac 14 passengers and transfer them to the response boats, which then took the injured passengers to Deep Point Marina. Meanwhile partner agencies from Bald Head Island, Towboat US and the Brunswick Sherriff’s department helped recover the non-injured passengers and transferred them to the Bald Head Island Ferry Ranger.
Reuters has reported that the ferry was carrying 53 passengers and three crew when she went aground and thirteen are reported to have sustained non-life threatening injuries.
The Bald Head Island Ferry shuttles passengers between Deep Point Marina in Southport, NC, and Bald Head Island in about 20 minutes.