U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Marlin file photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen.
FORT MACON, N.C. — The Coast Guard assisted four mariners aboard their disabled vessel approximately 90 miles Southeast of Georgetown, South Carolina, Friday morning.
Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders received a report from District Seven watchstanders that the good Samaritan vessel Costco Hope had located the 67-foot fishing vessel Morgan Lea that had become disabled due to engine failure and was in need of assistance.
A Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130J Hercules aircrew was launched to provide visual confirmation of the disabled vessel, and the Coast Guard Cutter Heron was launched to tow the vessel into port.
Over a two day period, the crew of the Heron towed the disabled vessel seven miles south of Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, where a Coast Guard Station Fort Macon 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew took over the towing operation and assisted the vessel into Morehead City State Port Berthing.
Involved in the search and efforts to assist the Morgan Lea were:
- Coast Guard Cutter Heron crew
- Coast Guard Cutter Marlin crew
- Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130J Hercules aircrew
- Coast Guard Station Georgetown 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew
- Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew
- Coast Guard Station Fort Macon 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew
- Good Samaritan vessel Costco Hope
There were no reported injuries to the mariners.
“It’s always extremely important to check the condition of equipment and engines before departing port,” said Petty Officer First Class Jared Stanton, operations unit controller at Sector North Carolina. “Through the cooperation of many different assets and a good Samaritan, we were able to bring the disabled vessel safely back into port.”
