Coast Guard Rescues Fishermen From Sinking Boat off Gardiners Island
The U.S. Coast Guard saved three fishermen Monday who were clinging to the bow of their sinking boat off Gardiners Island.
A crew member of Robert James, a 41-foot commercial fishing vessel, made a distress call to Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, based in New Haven, Connecticut, stating that the boat was “taking on water and sinking fast,” the Coast Guard stated. The men were advised to put on their lifejackets.
The Coast Guard watchstander sent out a 47-foot motor life boat rescue crew from Coast Guard Station Montauk, and delivered an urgent marine broadcast.
The rescue crew reached the boat and saved the fishermen just before the vessel completely sank, according to the Coast Guard. The fishing boat had been homeported in Groton, Connecticut.
“Our boatcrew responded quickly to the request for assistance, transferring the three fishermen onto our boat,” Petty Officer 2 Class Brent Walsh said. “Once the fishermen were safely on board and not in need of medical attention, we determined it unsafe to transfer our boatcrew over to dewater the partially submerged vessel due to hazardous sea conditions.”
The Coast Guard noted that winds were blowing 20 to 25 miles per hour and the seas were 3 feet.
No injuries or pollution due to the sinking vessel were reported.
Last month, Coast Guard Station Montauk personnel towed a pleasure boat to safety that was disabled in the Atlantic Ocean.