WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued 12 people Monday during four separate cases near Oregon Inlet.
Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet received notification at approximately 3:30 p.m. a 26-foot pleasure craft lost power and was drifting toward the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge in Oregon Inlet.
Station Oregon Inlet diverted a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water already underway to assist the disabled vessel. A good Samaritan vessel towed the disabled vessel to the inside of the bridge, where the 24 SPC-SW crew took the disabled vessel into tow at 4 p.m. The vessel was towed and moored at approximately 4:45 p.m. at the Oregon Inlet boat ramp.
In a second case, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received a report at approximately 5:20 p.m. a 26-foot boat with three people aboard was disabled six miles east of Oregon Inlet.
A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Oregon Inlet launched to assist and arrived on scene at approximately 7:10 p.m. The boat crew took the vessel in tow across the Oregon Inlet bar where the 24-foot SPC-SW assumed the tow, allowing the 47-foot MLB to divert to another vessel that was beset by weather off shore. The 24 SPC-SW moored the 26-foot boat up at Oregon Inlet boat ramp at approximately 8:35 p.m.
Station Oregon Inlet received a third report at approximately 6:10 p.m. that a 25-foot vessel with four people aboard was beset by weather 20 miles east of Oregon Inlet.
After finishing their tow with the 26-foot pleasure craft six miles east of Oregon Inlet, the 47-foot MLB crew, arrived on scene and took the vessel in tow. The vessel was moored at Oregon Inlet boat ramp at approximately 9:50 p.m.
In their fourth case, Station Oregon Inlet received a notification at approximately 5:30 p.m. that the 33-foot vessel Split Bill 23 miles north of Oregon Inlet with one person aboard lost its port engine, and the boat’s operator was concerned about crossing the bar with limited power.
A second 47-foot MLB crew from Station Oregon Inlet arrived on scene at approximately 6:40 p.m. and escorted the vessel into Wanchese Harbor until it moored up at approximately 8:50 p.m.
No injuries or pollution were reported.
For breaking news, follow the 5th District on Twitter @USCGMidAtlantic.