Coast Guard Station Washington 29-Foot Response Boat-Small file photo
WASHINGTON D.C. — A Coast Guard crew working with the Washington D.C. Fire Department and good Samaritans, rescued nine people from a vessel taking on water on the Anacostia River near the East Potomac Park, Sunday.
The watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Washington D.C., received a phone call at 1:39 p.m., from the captain of a vessel in distress stating that the vessel was taking on water and in need of assistance.
The Station Washington launched a boatcrew aboard a 29-foot Response Boat—Small to the scene. Once on scene, the crew found that a good Samaritan vessel had taken all passengers off the sinking vessel.
To provide increased stability, the boatcrew began dewatering the vessel using portable pumps. A Washington D.C. Fireboat arrived on scene and took the vessel in tow. Together the response boats safely moored the distressed vessel to a nearby marina.
“The teamwork was very smooth. Everybody worked together as a real cohesive team,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Katherine Milenski, coxswain of the response boat. “We do training with the D.C. fireboats about once a month and it helps us get on the same page.”
