PORTSMOUTH, VA — The Coast Guard assisted four people after their vessel began taking on water in Lynnhaven Roads near Virginia Beach on Saturday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads received a call via VHF marine radio from the distressed boaters at 8:48 p.m. stating their 26-foot pleasure craft was rapidly taking on water in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, approximately two miles from shore.
The boaters stated the plug was missing from their vessel and expressed concerns about the pleasure craft capsizing.
Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders diverted a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Little Creek at 8:50 p.m. The crew arrived on scene at 9:03 p.m. A Virginia Beach Fire Department Marine Operations crew also responded and arrived on scene around that time.
The RB-M crew deployed two crewmembers and a dewatering pump at around 9:05 p.m. to begin dewatering the pleasure craft. Crewmembers reported the flooding was under control at 9:12 p.m.
The Coast Guard crew escorted the pleasure craft to Marina Shores Marina by 9:40 p.m.
"Preparation is key any time you go out on the water, even if you plan to stay within a couple miles of shore," said Carla Harsch, lead command center controller at Sector Hampton Roads. "The fact that these boaters had a VHF marine radio on board helped them immensely. As soon as they put that broadcast out there, multiple boats in the area responded, willing to help."
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