NEW YORK – Coast Guard crewmembers from Station Montauk and Station New London assisted a boater in distress near Orient Point, New York, Thursday night. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Station Montauk)
NEW YORK – Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Montauk and Coast Guard Station New London assisted a boater in distress near Orient Point, New York, Thursday night.
At approximately 4:00 p.m. watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound received a radio call on channel 16, the international hailing and distress channel, that an 80-foot yacht with one person aboard was disabled and beginning to drift towards Plum Island.
The command center launched a rescue crew from both Station New London and Station Montauk. They also issued an Urgent Marine Assistance Request Broadcast to mariners in the area who could potentially help.
The Plum Island Ferry was able to throw a line to the yacht to prevent it from drifting into shoal water. At 4:30 p.m. a Station New London boatcrew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium arrived on scene and put the yacht in a stern tow.
The tow was then transferred at 5:15 p.m. to a boatcrew dispatched from Station Montauk aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat, who took the vessel to Montauk Yacht Club.
The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to know how their safety gear functions and that all machinery is operating properly. Coast Guard Auxiliary members are able to perform a Vessel Safety Check free of charge on any recreational vessel. Please click this link to learn more
