JUNEAU, Alaska — Coast Guard Station Ketchikan crewmembers assisted four people after their 40-foot pleasure craft was disabled and in danger of running aground nine miles southwest of Ketchikan April 21, 2012.

Sector Juneau watchstanders received the call from the crew of the disabled vessel over Channel 16 early Saturday afternoon and directed Station Ketchikan personnel to respond.

A 25-ft response boat-small crew arrived on-scene to assess the situation and a 47-ft motor lifeboat crew arrived shortly thereafter to take the disabled vessel in tow.

The Station Ketchikan crewmembers safely towed the vessel to Pennock Island.

“Thanks to an efficient communications system, we were able to quickly direct Station Ketchikan crewmembers to the location of the disabled vessel,” said Vince Grochowski, an Operations Watchstander with Sector Juneau. “The station crew was there in less than an hour, safely towing the vessel back to land.”

The Coast Guard recommends all mariners have appropriate communications equipment on board their vessel while operating in Alaska’s maritime environment.