CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Coast Guard crews successfully dewatered a commercial fishing vessel taking on water with six people aboard, 30 miles east of the Port Mansfield jetties, early Saturday morning.
At 1:27 a.m., the fishing vessel Little Joseph contacted Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi watchstanders on VHF channel 16 to report that their vessel was taking on water and they needed assistance.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Alligator and a Coast Guard Station South Padre Island response boat crew arrived on scene with the Little Joseph at approximately 3 a.m.
The Alligator transferred several members of their crew along with two dewatering pumps to the vessel followed by another pump from the Station South Padre Island response boat.
Once successfully dewatered, the crews were able to correct an issue with bilge system on scene. The vessel is under its own power and propulsion.