NEW YORK – A Coast Guard boatcrew rescued two individuals who were aboard a foldable-boat that was taking on water and drifting out to sea near Montauk Point, New York, Saturday afternoon.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound received a distress call on channel-16 from an individual aboard a 10-foot foldable boat stating that they were taking on water and beginning to drift away from shore.
The foldable-boat had a small trolling motor being operated, however, it was not able to keep up with the current.
The command center issued a Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and launched a rescue crew from Coast Guard Station Montauk aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat (MLB) around 3:40 p.m.
A Good Samaritan vessel, the Bluefin, heard the UMIB and was able to find the boat in distress. The captain aboard the Bluefin handed the individuals a bucket to help dewater the boat and stayed to assist until the rescue crew arrived.
The Coast Guard boatcrew arrived on scene at 4:15 p.m., where the two boaters were pulled aboard the MLB, and transported to Station Montauk. The crewmembers were also able to pull the foldable-boat aboard.
At the station, it was discovered that the individual had called on the international hailing and distress channel using a portable, marine-band radio.
The Coast Guard would like to remind all boaters to be ready for any emergency before heading out on the water, including a means of communication. The rescued boaters were able to call for help and were ultimately rescued because of their call for help on the international hailing and distress channel, channel-16, using a portable, marine-band radio.