Portsmouth, Va. – Three North Carolina boaters were towed safely to the Oregon Inlet, N.C., boat ramp early this morning after reporting their 24-foot pleasure craft was experiencing engine problems.
The boaters contacted a nearby Coast Guard C-130 from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., via VHF radio, at approximately 1:30 yesterday afternoon, reporting their vessel, the 24-foot pleasure craft Carabet, was experiencing engine trouble and requested assistance.
Coast Guard Sector North Carolina contacted the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Staten Island, a 110-foot patrol boat home ported in Fort Macon, N.C., and diverted them to assist.
The Staten Island towed the vessel to the Fort Macon sea buoy before transferring the tow to a Coast Guard crew aboard a 25-foot patrol boat from Station Oregon Inlet who towed the vessel to the boat ramp.
The Coast Guard encourages boaters to always wear their life vests while on the water and to have a working VHF radio onboard their vessel to contact authorities in case of emergency or distress situations.
Technorati Tags: Air Station Elizabeth City, C-130, Coast Guard, Cutter Staten Island, Station Oregon Inlet
