The U.S. Coast Guard was called to an area east of Littlejohn Island after a passenger ferry with 24 people on board reported becoming disabled in rough weather on Friday.

The Pied Piper, a 56-foot vessel that can be chartered, reported it was disabled at about 10:30 a.m. not far from some shoals, said Lt. Scott McCann, spokesman for the Coast Guard.

A Coast Guard’s 47-foot lifeboat and 29-foot response boat were already on the water for a training exercise and responded to the area when Coast Guard Station South Portland issued an urgent marine information broadcast. A boat from the Chebeague Island Boat Yard responded to the message and towed the Pied Piper to a pier on Cousins Island.

A small-craft advisory was in effect because of high winds.

After the disabled boat reached pier, the Coast Guard inspected the vessel and cleared it to continue carrying passengers. The cause of the incident remains under investigation, McCann said.