U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Skipjack file photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Metcalf.
NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard assisted a disabled vessel approximately 17 miles south of Vermillion Bay, Louisiana, Tuesday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 8:00 a.m. that a fishing vessel had received a radio transmission from someone aboard another vessel stating that his vessel was disabled.
Sector watchstanders diverted an HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama, to search for the disabled vessel.
The airplane crew located the vessel at approximately 11:55 a.m. and returned to the air station to refuel.
The airplane crew arrived back on scene at 3:33 p.m. and dropped chemical and strobe lights and a self-locating datum marker buoy to monitor the vessel’s location.
Sector watchstanders directed the launch of Coast Guard Cutter Skipjack from Abbeveille, Louisiana, to assist the vessel.
A good Samaritan boat crew arrived on scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. and is towing the vessel to shore.
