[chris]

The Coast Guard medevaced a 65-year-old woman from the cruise ship Zuiderdam in Alaska on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, after the ship's medical officer reported at about 5:00 p.m. that she was experiencing loss of vision.

Sector Juneau command center watchstanders coordinated an Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew. The aircrew reached the ship at 7:30 p.m., but a dense marine layer made visibility too poor for a safe hoist.

Watchstanders helped set a new rendezvous point in Sitka Sound, where conditions had improved. At 10:06 p.m., the Jayhawk crew hoisted the passenger and transferred her to emergency medical services personnel in Sitka.

The passenger was last reported in stable condition. On-scene conditions were 4-foot seas and 12 mph winds.