CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Coast Guard helped salvage a fishing vessel taking on water Wednesday, near South Padre Island.
A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a call from a crewmember aboard the fishing vessel Stone Mountain at approximately 7 a.m., reporting that the vessel was taking on water about 30 miles northeast of South Padre Island.
The Coast Guard launched the following assets to assist with the salvage effort:
- Coast Guard Cutter Manatee, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Corpus Christi
- Coast Guard Station South Padre Island 33-foot Special Purpose Craft – Law Enforcement boat
- Air Station Corpus Christi HU-25 Falcon jet and crew
- Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew
The Falcon jet and crew arrived overhead first and dropped a dewatering pump to the vessel. Soon after that, the SPC-LE crew arrived on-scene and sent two crewmen with another pump to the fishing vessel. A total of five dewatering pumps were used.
After stabilizing the fishing vessel, the Stone Mountain was towed into Brownsville by her sister ship. A Coast Guard patrol boat escorted the tow to ensure safety.
“Today’s success was a testament to the crew working together,” said small boat coxswain, Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Tyrrell. “We worked together with many Coast Guard units for the common goal of saving the boat and I am proud of everyone involved.”
