BALTIMORE – A Coast Guard boatcrew rescued four people from a boat taking on water in the Tangier Sound near Deal Island, Md., Thursday.
At about 1:00 p.m., the rescue crew of a 41-foot Utility Boat from Coast Guard Station Crisfield, Md., received a call from a good Samaritan via marine-band radio that the Helen Virginia, a 45-foot commercial fishing vessel, was taking on water after reportedly making contact with an oyster dredge they were using. The Coast Guard crew, already underway at the time, was on scene within two minutes of the call.
After arriving on scene, the rescue crew was able to remove the crew of the fishing vessel and begin dewatering the boat. The rescue crew pumped out more than 3,000 gallons of water from the boat and was able to temporarily plug the hole making it safe for transport.
The Coast Guard boatcrew took the Helen Virginia in tow and brought it to Scott’s Cove Marina in Chance, Md.
There were no reports of injuries.
The Coast Guard urges mariners to take advantage of the free no-fault dockside exams offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary to ensure that areas of critical importance such as hull condition, maintenance of machinery equipment and vessel stability are in their best possible condition.
