Coast Guard rescues 3 following collision off Cape May, NJ

Crewmembers from Last Stand, a 42-foot boat, are transferred from aboard their life raft onto a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Cape May, New Jersey, Thursday, April 28, 2016 after reportedly colliding into the Tug Dean Reinauer. The Last Stand sunk but all three crewmembers were rescued with no report of injury. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Ruffenach

Crewmembers from Last Stand are transferred from their life raft onto a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Cape May, New Jerse. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Ruffenach

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Coast Guard rescued three men Thursday from their life raft approximately six miles east of Cape May, New Jersey.

The Coast Guard received a request for assistance from the captain aboard the 42-foot boat Last Stand, reporting they were sinking following a collision with the 78-foot Tug Dean Reinauer.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Cape May launched to assist. The RB-M crew arrived on scene and took the three boaters aboard from their life raft.

“The crew of the fishing vessel Last Stand was extremely prepared and knowledgeable on their safety equipment and procedures,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class James Pappas, Station Cape May officer of the day. “Their readiness allowed them to abandon ship within 10 minutes of the collision, including scrambling into their survival suits and ultimately into their life raft. They saved their own lives.”

The Last Stand sank, and no injuries were reported.


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