Historic whale-watching vessel avoids sinking after grounding on rock

摘要

A 78-year-old wooden whale-watching cruise boat ran aground on a rock and almost rolled onto its side in Alaska's Inside Passage. The captain said a quick duct-tape job may have prevented his vessel from sinking.The 74-foot Catalyst, with 12 people aboard, was sailing amid the best whale activity of the season when it ground to a halt on a submerged rock near Robert Island,south of Juneau. The accident happened at 1015 on July 6 about one-third of a mile off a point. The captain said he misjudged his position while excited passengers were on the bridge with him, and his elec-tronic chart may not have been at the optimal setting.