The U.S. Coast Guard contacted Juneau-based Alaska State Troopers to advise them that they were initiating a search operation to locate 31-year-old Anchorage resident Charles Christianson in the Taigud Islands area at 11:30 pm Thursday night.

Christianson had contacted his family at about 8:15 that evening reporting that he was suffering engine problems on his 24′ vessel and that he was approximately 2 miles from the island group where he was planning on anchoring up at. The family, concerned that they were unable to re-establish contact with Christianson, reported the situation to the Coast Guard.

USCG also tried to raise Christianson using the Maritime Emergency Channel, but even after several attempts, were unable to do so.

Being unable to contact the boater, the Coast Guard launched a JH-660 helicopter at 12:15 am. The Alaska State Troopers also contacted volunteers at Sitka SAR who readied a boat and crew to respond.

But, extra volunteers were not needed, at 1:23 am, on Friday morning, USCG contacted troopers and advised them that Christianson had been located. Christianson told the Coast Guard that “he was not in need of assistance and planned to head to Sitka at first light,” the trooper dispatch revealed.

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  charles christianson, Coast Guard, located, search, sitka, taigud islands, troopers