A rescue swimmer from Coast Guard Sector North Bend helps two mariners dewater their vessel about 40 miles off the Oregon coast, May 11, 2019. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Sector North Bend.
FLORENCE, Ore. — Coast Guard crews and a good Samaritan rescued three people aboard a vessel that was taking on water 36 miles offshore from Florence, Ore., Saturday.
A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River put the Marauder, a 32-foot pleasure craft, in tow returned to Florence.
About 11 a.m. watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a report that the vessel was taking on water and the bilge pumps were unable to keep up. Sector watchstanders issues an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast, while the Siuslaw boat crew and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew that was forward deployed to Coast Guard Air Facility Newport launched in response.
First on scene was a good Samaritan aboard the vessel Southern Charm, who passed over a plugging kit to help slow the intake of water. They stayed on scene until the helicopter crew arrived, and lowered their rescue swimmer and a dewater pump.
The swimmer assisted with the dewatering until the boat crew arrived on scene. The aircrew hoisted the swimmer and left to refuel at Sector North Bend.
The boat crew placed the vessel in tow and at about 2 p.m. began the estimated 6-hour trip back to Florence. They will continue to monitor and maintain dewatering efforts during the course of the tow.
