PHILADELPHIA
— The Coast Guard rescued three people Wednesday after the boat they
were on began taking on water in Cape May Inlet, New Jersey.Coast Guard Station Cape May launched a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew to assist. The boat crewmembers arrived on scene and pulled the survivors out of the water. No injuries were reported. The men were not wearing life jackets.
Eleven fuel drums were onboard the vessel at the time of the sinking. Six have been recovered.
The vessel is currently submerged in Cape May Inlet. Information broadcasts are being transmitted over VHF marine radio for the safety of mariners and responders.
Sector Delaware Bay is leading a joint response with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s New Jersey office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to minimize pollution threats from the sunken vessel.
“The entire evolution was very quick,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Steglich, Station Cape May’s officer of the day during the rescue. “We were preparing to get underway for night operations and training when we heard the distress call, and immediately launched the boat. Our crew arrived on scene and pulled the men out of the water in 11 minutes.”