Search underway for a missing boater

The Coast Guard is searching for a missing man in the St. James Bay area north of Juneau.

A 25-foot Coast Guard station boat was sent out late Thursdsay night, but nothing was found.

An H-60 helicopter from Sitka was reported on scene and searching at about 5:15 a.m. Friday morning. Coast Guard Sector Juneau search and rescue controller Vince Grochowski says the helicopter has about two hours of flight time to search the area.

The missing boater, identified as 52-year old Brian Koelling, was apparently part of a group of four people staying at a cabin in the area. Koelling went out in a Zodiac inflatable to check on crab pots, but he never returned.

The Coast Guard received a phone call from his companions about eleven o’clock Thursday night reporting him as missing.

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