BALTIMORE – The Coast Guard rescued a man from a boat that was taking on water in the Patapsco River near the Francis Scott Key Bridge Sunday.
Rescued was Chris Shipley, of Orchard Beach, Md.
Coast Guard Sector Baltimore watchstanders received a call from Maryland Natural Resources Police at 12:58 p.m., reporting that Shipley’s 13-foot boat was taking on water near the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Sector Baltimore watchstanders diverted a 41-foot Utility boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay, Md., to the scene. Once on scene, the UTB crew removed Shipley from his boat and placed his boat in a side tow. The rescue crew then took Shipley and his boat to his residence near Stoney Creek Bridge Marina in Orchard Beach.
There were no reports of injuries.
“The person in distress was wearing bright colored clothing, which aided us in finding him,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Jacobs, a coxswain from Station Curtis Bay. “We were underway conducting training when we received the call which enabled us to arrive on scene within 15 minutes.”
The Coast Guard urges all mariners to carry marine-band radios onboard their vessel. Marine-band radios are the quickest and most reliable way to contact rescue personnel in the event of an emergency. Cell phones are not a reliable means of communication while on the water due to gaps in coverage and limited battery life.
