Alaska News

Coast Guard ends search for Ketchikan man missing from drifting houseboat

The Coast Guard said Wednesday it suspended a search for a Ketchikan man who went missing from a houseboat in the Tongass Narrows.

John Anderson's 40-foot houseboat, Diver III, was first spotted Tuesday morning dragging anchor off Pennock Island, about a quarter-mile south of Ketchikan. The boat had drifted dangerously close to a breakwall, officials said.

A dog was on board, and hot coals were in the wood stove, but there was no sign of Anderson, the boat's registered owner, officials said.

The Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers, Ketchikan Fire Department and volunteer search and rescue crews searched 86 square miles for 27 hours. The search was called off late Wednesday, and it's uncertain what happened to Anderson, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Grant DuVuyst.

An official with the Ketchikan Police Department could not immediately be reached for comment on the case.

Reach Devin Kelly at dkelly@adn.com or 257-4314.

By DEVIN KELLY

dkelly@adn.com

Devin Kelly

Devin Kelly was an ADN staff reporter.

ADVERTISEMENT