Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Babcok, a machinery technician aboard Coast Guard Cutter Haddock, dewaters a 35-foot recreational vessel near Mission Bay, San Diego on July 3, 2016. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
SAN DIEGO – The Coast Guard assisted a vessel taking on water outside of Mission Bay, San Diego on Sunday.
At 4:09 p.m. Sunday, watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center received a call from the operator of a 35-foot recreational vessel that was taking on water approximately two miles west of Mission Bay.
The Coast Guard Cutter Haddock, in the middle of a 500-mile transit back to homeport after a six-week dry dock period in San Francisco, was approximately three miles southwest of the vessel and diverted to assist.
The Haddock transferred Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Babcock, a machinery technician aboard Haddock, to the vessel to assist with the dewatering efforts. Babcock used dewatering pumps that he had rebuilt during the dry dock period to control the flooding as San Diego Lifeguards towed the vessel to Mission Bay.
At approximately 6 p.m., San Diego Lifeguards safely moored the vessel in Mission Bay and transferred Babcock back to the Haddock. There were no injuries reported.
“I’m constantly amazed by what this crew is able to accomplish,” said Lt. Katie Spira, commanding officer of the Haddock. “After being out of the water for six weeks, we were able to seamlessly transition back to operations and assist a boater in need just outside of San Diego bay. By embodying the Coast Guard’s creed of ‘Semper Paratus’ we were able to help those in need during this important holiday weekend.”
Haddock is an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in San Diego.
