Crew members found the 47-year-old captain of Admiralty Dream cruise ship dead on Monday, July 04, Alaska State Troopers reported. According to a trooper dispatch, Kenneth Adam was found dead at 5:46 a.m.
Jamey Cagle, vice president of the small cruise line Alaskan Dream Cruises’ Sitka-based parent company "Allen Marine", announced Adam was found in his stateroom and CPR was administered promptly. When he was unresponsive, troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard were contacted. Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said Alaska Wildlife Troopers assisted troopers, too.
The vessel was underway in the Chatham Strait headed for Pavlof Harbor for a day excursion, scheduled to arrive at 6:30 a.m. when Adam was found, Peters said. The vessel made a detour to Angoon because there were docks where float planes and boats could tie up while waiting for law enforcement to respond. The vessel anchored near the Angoon Ferry Terminal and Whaler’s Cove Lodge, 57 miles south of Juneau.
Foul play isn’t suspected, and Cagle said it is his understanding that investigators are classifying the death as “accidental” for now.
A second Allen Marine boat arrived from Juneau to take the 57 passengers originally aboard the 143-foot vessel to Hidden Falls to allow troopers time to investigate.
Captain Adam was from California and worked for Alaskan Dream Cruises for four seasons.
Officials have contacted Adam’s next of kin and his body will be transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for an autopsy.