A Coast Guard Station Port Aransas 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew works alongside a Port of Corpus Christi Police Department boat crew to assist a 44-foot fishing vessel taking on water southeast of the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, Oct. 9, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo, courtesy Air Station Corpus Christi)
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard assisted 2 people aboard a fishing vessel taking on water Sunday near Corpus Christi.
Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi command center watchstanders received a report at 12:56 p.m via cell phone from the operator of the 44-foot fishing vessel Working Together stating their vessel was taking on water 3 miles southeast of the Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi Bay.
A Coast Guard Station Port Aransas 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew launched while a Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew diverted to the location to provide assistance. A Port of Corpus Christi Police Department boat crew also diverted to assist.
Once on scene, the RB–M crew began assisting the vessel with a P-6 dewatering pump but was unsuccessful due to a mechanical failure. The Dolphin crew departed the scene to acquire another dewatering pump from Air Station Corpus Christi.
The Dolphin crew arrived back on scene, lowered the dewatering pump with a rescue swimmer and began to dewater the vessel.
The Working Together’s sister ship, James, arrived to tow the vessel ashore. The Coast Guard boat crew escorted both fishing vessels safely to Corpus Christi Marina.
“Today was a great example of how we can seamlessly operate with other Coast Guard units and agency partners to complete the mission,” said Lt. Dan Gillis, Air Station Corpus Christi helicopter pilot. “Our consistent training with Station Port Aransas crews allowed us to deliver a much-needed dewatering pump, while the Port Police vessel relayed vital information to the vessel in distress.”
