ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday for unconfirmed persons in the water after a skiff was found on the west shore of Knik Arm with keys still in the ignition.
Commander Coast Guard Sector Anchorage suspended the search at 10:15 p.m., pending new information or reports of any missing persons related to the abandoned skiff.
The search included efforts from the Coast Guard, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, Alaska Air National Guard, Anchorage Fire Department and Alaska State Troopers.
Searches in the air were completed by a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak C-130 Hercules aircraft crew, an Air National Guard C-130 aircraft crew, and two Air National Guard HH-60 helicopter crews.
The search covered approximately 388 square miles.
"Details discovered during the investigative processes led us to believe that nobody associated with the vessel was in distress," said Senior Petty Officer Erik Patterson, Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command duty officer for the case. "After an extensive search yesterday afternoon into the evening, unless we hear that someone associated with this vessel is unaccounted for, this case is suspended for search and rescue."
Details about how the skiff ended up abandoned are under investigation. The Coast Guard is coordinating salvage of the vessel with the skiff's owner. The skiff's hull has been labeled with contact information for the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage Command Center in the event that it is rediscovered or ends up in a different location prior to being salvaged.
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