Coast Guard A.C. to the Rescue, Saves Sinking Fishing Boat

The Coast Guard assisted the crew of a fishing boat taking on water Wednesday 80 miles east of Cape May.

Watchstanders from the Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay command center received notification Wednesday at 5:35 a.m. by a good Samaritan that the 77-foot fishing vessel Golden Nugget, homeported in Cape May, was taking on water, according to coastguardnews.com

The Coast Guard launched multiple assets in an effort to aid the vessel in distress, including:

• MH-65 dolphin helicopter crews from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City
• A C-130 Hercules crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina
• The crew of the Cape May-based Coast Guard Cutter Mako

Coast Guard helicopter crews transferred a dewatering pump to crew members aboard the fishing vessel, and flooding has been contained.

The crew of the Mako is en route to the fishing vessel to assist while Coast Guard aircrews remain on scene to monitor the situation.

No injuries or pollution have been reported.