Coast Guard assists 5 in vessel taking on water near Carolina Beach

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard came to the aid of five people after their vessel began taking on water near Carolina Beach Sunday.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center in Wilmington received a report at about 8 a.m. that a 33-foot pleasure craft was taking on water with five people aboard approximately 15 miles southeast of Carolina Beach.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew launched from Coast Guard Station Wrightsville Beach, arrived on scene at about 8:35 a.m. and delivered a dewatering pump. The pump was able to keep up with the flooding while the Coast Guard escorted the pleasure craft to Carolina Beach Inlet, where a TowBoatUS vessel crew took the boat in tow to Carolina Beach Boat Yard.

“The Coast Guard encourages all mariners to have a commercial salvage membership in case of breakdowns requiring a tow back to shore,” said Petty Officer Second Class Ian Callahan, coxswain for the case. “But we are always prepared to respond to emergency situations on the water.”