ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard came to the aid of a distressed fishing vessel near the Columbia River entrance, Tuesday.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, located in Astoria, received a report that the 52-foot commercial fishing vessel Dorby S was taking on water approximately five miles west of the Columbia River entrance, at approximately 8:20 a.m.
Sector Columbia River launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria and an already underway 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Wash.
The helicopter crew arrived on scene to find the vessel rapidly taking on water with three people aboard, wearing life suits. The helicopter crew delivered a dewatering pump to the fishing vessel crew.
The 47-foot motor lifeboat crew arrived on scene and delivered an additional pump to the distressed crew. The Dorby S crew was able to successfully use the pumps to dewater the vessel enough so that the motor lifeboat crew could take them safely in tow.
The 47-foot motor lifeboat crew successfully towed the Dorby S to Ilwaco, arriving at approximately 1:15 p.m.
