BOSTON – The four-man crew of a commercial fishing vessel was rescued by a Good Samaritan today after pumps failed to keep their boat afloat off the coast of Maine.
The Coast Guard received a distress call at 12:15 p.m. from the Sea Asylum, a 37-foot commercial fishing vessel from Lubec, Maine, that it was taking on water and the pumps could not keep up with the flooding. The Sea Asylum was about three miles north of Station Eastport when it issued the distress call.
A 41-foot rescue boat crew from the station was launched and an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued by Coast Guard Sector Northern New England alerting any boats in the vicinity to provide assistance.
The 45-foot fishing vessel, Perfect Choice, was nearby and safely took onboard the four-man crew of the Sea Asylum.
The Coast Guard 41-foot rescue boat arrived on scene within 35 minutes of receiving the initial distress call from the Sea Asylum.
Using dewatering pumps, the 41-foot Coast Guard boat and the Perfect Choice were able to re-float the Sea Asylum, and the vessel is now being towed to Globe Cove in Lubec.
No injuries were reported.
“It’s fortunate the Perfect Choice was close by to assist the mariners and made abandoning procedures almost seamless,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Joe Tallent, Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command center supervisor.
The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
