The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(ASTORIA, Ore.) — The Coast Guard is responding to the grounding of the the sternwheeler Willamette Queen near Oregon City,Ore., Sunday.
The 87-foot riverboat was being escorted by two Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels when it ran aground with 80 passengers and eight crew on board at approximately 5:30 p.m.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria, Ore., two Coast Guard 25-foot smallboat crews from Station Portland, Ore., and a tugboat from Newburg, Ore., were dispatched to the scene, while the two Auxiliary vessels stayed with the Willamette Queen. The tugboat successfully managed to free the vessel, and move it to Willamette Park in Portland. Coast Guard investigators from Sector Portland will inspect the damage.
No injuries or serious damage to the vessel have been reported.
