BOSTON (D1 Public Affairs) – Coast Guard Sector Northern New England was extremely busy conducting multiple operations as warm temperatures sharply increased boating activity in New England waters this past weekend.
Personnel from the sector, located in South Portland, Maine, responded to three fires. The first occurred Friday when the Washburn and Doughty Shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine caught fire. Coast Guard boats from Station Boothbay Harbor enforced a safety zone around the area and transported firefighters around the shipyard so that they could get to areas they otherwise couldn’t reach.
Saturday, Coast Guard Station South Portland, Maine, and several other state and local agencies responded when the fishing boat Kimberly Marie caught fire and exploded with one person aboard off the coast of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, about 10:30 a.m.
Today, Station Jonesport, Maine, launched a boat when the fishing vessel Brennon Leigh caught fire in Milbridge, Maine. The local fire department took both people who were aboard off the vessel before in sunk.
The sector also responded to several uncorrelated mayday calls and about 22 requests for help from disabled and grounded boats throughout New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
“We’d like to remind boaters to remain safe and vigilant while enjoying the warm weather and to use basic life saving equipment such as life jackets, a VHF radio, and a satellite locating device,” said Lt. Gerald Hewes of Sector Northern New England.
