NEW YORK – The Coast Guard rescued three fishermen from their sinking boat off Gardiners Island, N.Y., today.
Communication watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, in New Haven, Conn., received a distress call from a crewmember aboard the 41-foot commercial fishing vessel Robert James stating his vessel was taking on water and it was sinking fast. The three fishermen were immediately advised to put on their lifejackets.
The watchstander issued an urgent marine broadcast and launched a 47-foot Motor Life Boat rescue crew from Coast Guard Station Montauk.
Station Montauk’s boatcrew arrived on scene where the three fishermen were clinging to the bow of the partly submerged fishing vessel. The boatcrew removed the three fishermen just before the vessel sank.
“Our boatcrew responded quickly to the request for assistance, transferring the three fishermen onto our boat,” said Petty Officer 2 Class Brent Walsh, the 47-foot Motor Life Boat operator from Coast Guard Station Montauk. “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.”
There were no reported injuries to the fishermen and no pollution in the vicinity of the sunken vessel. At the location of the rescue, winds were blowing 20-25 mph and seas were 3-feet. The vessel is homeported in Groton, Conn.
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