United States Coast Guard (USCG) Sector San Francisco, in partnership with a commercial salvage team, have successfully removed the 'Tahoe Queen', a riverboat-style passenger vessel, from a sandbar off Regan Beach in South Lake Tahoe, California.
The passenger vessel ran aground with 296 passengers aboard on Monday. A range of rescue boat crews then transferred all passengers and non-essential crew from the 'Tahoe Queen' to shore at Ski Run Marina in South Lake Tahoe.
"An investigation is underway looking at all possible contributing factors, just one of which could be lower-than-average water levels," commented USCG San Francisco's chief of prevention, Commander Andrew Williamson.
"At all times, boaters need to exercise caution when operating in Lake Tahoe, especially during these potentially lower-than-normal water levels."
Four commercial salvage boats later rotated the 'Tahoe Queen' into an optimum position, and then towed the vessel into deeper water.
The distressed vessel was then able to transit back to the Ski Run Marina under its own power.