BOSTON — The Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma responded Sunday to a disabled fishing vessel 100 nautical miles East of Chatham and continued assistance through Tuesday.
At 11:53 a.m. Sunday, a Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England watchstander received a distress call from a crewmember aboard the 62-foot eastern rigged trawler fishing vessel, Challenge. The crewmember reported Challenge was disabled due to engine failure approximately 100 nautical miles East of Chatham near Georges Bank with seven people and 1000 pounds of scallops aboard.
At approximately 1:15 p.m. Sunday, Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma, then 170 nautical miles from Challenge, was diverted to offer assistance. The Tahoma crew arrived on scene at 2:30 p.m. Monday and rigged a tow.
Tahoma towed Challenge throughout the night and met a commercial salvage vessel, Tug Morgan, Tuesday at about 1 p.m. in Great Round Shoals, north of Nantucket. Tug Morgan continued the tow to New Bedford, Challenge’s homeport.
"I am extremely proud of Tahoma's crew for their careful and concerted effort throughout this 100 plus mile tow," said Commander Timothy Brown, Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma’s commanding officer. "It is deeply rewarding to assist a fellow mariner in distress and we were thankful to see the vessel and her crew's safe return to shore."
Tahoma is a 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter. Tahoma's crew primarily conducts maritime law enforcement, homeland security, and search and rescue missions in support of Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere. Tahoma's homeport is Portsmouth, New Hampshire.