Coast Guard Assists Disabled New Bedford Fishing Boat

The Coast Guard comes to the aid of a disabled fishing boat.  Here's the release from the Coast Guard First District Office:

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel towed an 84-foot commercial fishing vessel Friday with seven people aboard after the vessel became disabled 100 miles off the coast of Nantucket.

Crewmembers aboard the fishing vessel Discovery, homeported in New Bedford, contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern's command center at approximately 2:30 a.m. Friday reporting they had a disabled rudder and needed assistance.

Sector Southeastern watchstanders issued a marine safety information broadcast at about 3 a.m. requesting nearby fishermen to assist. The request went unanswered by the other fishing vessels in the area.  

At approximately 3:30 a.m., the Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel crew diverted to assist. 

The Sanibel arrived on scene at about 11:30 a.m. and took the Discovery into tow toward Great Round Shoal.

Once closer to shore at about 10:30 p.m., the Sanibel passed the Discovery's tow to a commercial salvage company who towed the Discovery into New Bedford.

The Coast Guard Cutter Sanibel is a 110-foot Island-class patrol boat homeported in Woods Hole. The crew's missions range from protecting and enforcing laws for America’s living marine economy to search and rescue.