Coast Guard rescues 3 from sinking vessel near Catalina Island
Jul 24th, 2016
LOS ANGELES — The Coast Guard rescued three boaters from their vessel after it began taking on water Saturday near Catalina Island. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach received a call from a 32-foot pleasure craft reporting that it was disabled and out of gas with three individuals aboard. The source also reported that they did not know their location but had left from Long Beach and were heading to Avalon. Initial efforts to obtain the vessel’s GPS location through the boaters’ personal cell phone yielded no results.
When the vessel reported they were taking on water, the Coast Guard immediately launched a 45-foot Response Boat —Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles, a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Forward Operating Base Point Mugu, and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip, a 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Channel Islands Harbor.
The helicopter crew was first on scene and located the vessel five miles east of Isthmus taking on water. The rescue swimmer aboard the helicopter was lowered to assist the boaters in the safe transfer to the Coast Guard 45-foot response boat.
The boaters were transported to Coast Guard Station Los Angeles where EMS was waiting. No major injuries were reported. The boaters reported to have life jackets but no marine-band radio, no flares, no life raft and no GPS aboard.
The Coast Guard would like to remind mariners of the importance to always:
- Wear life jackets while on the water.
- Always have a working marine-band radio on board.
- Carry marine flares on board the vessel.
- Ensure bilge pumps are operational and vessels are secure for heavy winds and rain.
- Stay Informed – The public should be aware of weather conditions and monitor progress through local television, radio and internet. Check the current and expected weather and water conditions before heading out, and be aware that weather conditions can quickly change.