Coast Guard And Helper Vessels Rescue 13 People From Sinking Boat

Thirteen people were rescued from a sinking fishing vessel by the U.S. Coast Guard along with two good Samaritan vessels off the coast of Virginia on Friday. The 115-foot commercial fishing vessel, Tremont, sent a mayday call at about 2 a.m., reporting a collision with the Panama-flagged 1000-foot container vessel MSC Rita, according to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard 5th District. The Tremont crew reported their vessel was sinking and that the 13 people aboard were abandoning ship about 63 miles southeast of Chincoteague, Va. Rescue crews were deployed from Coast Guard Station Chincoteague, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City (N.C.) and Coast Guard Sector Virginia, including an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew along with two boats. Two good Samaritan vessels arrived at the scene, the Coast Guard said. Research vessel Atlantis launched its smallboat to transfer 12 Tremont crew members to the motor vessel Drystan. The Tremonts captain, still aboard the sinking vessel, was hoisted by the helicopter crew. There were no reported injuries, the Coast Guard said. “While this morning’s events were unfortunate, 13 people were rescued from an extremely perilous situation,” said Capt. Jennifer Stockwell, commander of Sector Virginia. “The combined efforts of good Samaritans and Coast Guard response assets demonstrates a selfless commitment to others.