14 Injured in North Carolina Ferry Grounding

The U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies are responding to a report of multiple injuries after the Bald Head Island Ferry Adventure ran aground Tuesday in the vicinity of Battery Island near Southport, N.C. 

The crew of the Adventure, a 64-foot passenger ferry, contacted Coast Guard Station Oak Island watchstanders via VHF-FM channel 16 at approximately 9 a.m., reporting they ran aground and passengers aboard were in need of medical assistance. 

Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders issued a marine assistance request broadcast and dispatched crews aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat and a 25-foot Response Boat - Small from Coast Guard Station Oak Island and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Bayberry to assist.

The crew of the Bayberry used their shallow water skiff to medevac 14 passengers from the Adventure and transfer them to the 47-foot MLB and the 25-foot RB-S.  The crews aboard the two rescue boats then took the injured passengers to Deep Point Marina. None of the 53 passengers or three crew members on board were thrown into the water, despite initial reports.

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.

Officials were investigating what caused the incident.