The Coast Guard Cutter Willow, homeported in Newport, Rhode Island, approaches the burning fishing boat Miss Lynn Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j.g. Stephen Nolan)
BOSTON — The Coast Guard responded to a burning fishing boat with two people aboard Thursday four miles south of Port Clyde, Maine.
A person aboard the fishing boat Miss Lynn contacted Coast Guard Sector Northern New England watchstanders at approximately 10 a.m. stating the engine room was on fire and they were in need of immediate help.
The watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast requesting assistance from nearby mariners.
A 29-foot response boat crew launched from Coast Guard Station Rockland and the 225-foot buoy tender Coast Guard Cutter Willow diverted to assist.
The good Samaritan fishing vessel Bug Catcha heard Miss Lynn’s distress call and was the first on-scene.
The two men from the burning Miss Lynn had donned survival suits, entered the water, and were recovered by the Bug Catcha crew. Shortly afterwards, the Coast Guard Cutter Willow and response boat arrived on scene.
Coast Guard Cutter Willow aggressively fought the fire, but the heavily damaged Miss Lynn quickly sank near Cilley Ledge with no sign of pollution.
“This is an unfortunate situation for the two fishermen, but they did several things right that saved their lives,” said Capt. Michael Baroody, commander of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England. “They used their radio to make a distress call to notify the Coast Guard, they relayed the critical information we needed, and they donned immersion suits.”
The Coast Guard will conduct an investigation into the cause of the incident.
