BOSTON- A Coast Guard rescue crew is towing a New York-based fishing boat to safety today after the crew encountered engine problems about 115 miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass.
The five-member crew of the 92-foot Gabby G is not in any distress.
At 10:38 p.m., Monday, Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a report from Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound about the disabled boat. A crew member aboard the Gabby G made an initial call to his wife via satellite telephone, stating that the crew was having transmission problems.
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Reliance, a 210-foot cutter based in Kittery, Maine, is towing the vessel toward Point Judith, R.I.
Both boats are expected to arrive near Point Judith Wednesday evening.
“We have the crew on a 30-minute communication schedule via satellite e-mail Skymates, since the boat is out of radio range,” said Scott Backholm, a search and rescue controller coordinating the tow at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England. “Satellite e-mail systems are a great asset for off-shore communications, especially when the crew needs help.”
