Stock image of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium
BOSTON — Coast Guard crews from Stations Woods Hole and Menemsha towed the 65-foot fishing vessel Leonardo, with six people aboard, Wednesday when it became disabled after running aground in Woods Hole Pass.
At approximately 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received notification via VHF-16 radio from the captain aboard Leonardo reporting they ran aground and damaged their rudder.
A 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew from Station Woods Hole launched at 10:22 p.m. and quickly established a tow. The Station Woods Hole crew towed the vessel to Buzzards Bay where a 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Menemsha assumed the tow.
Leonardo's owner arranged for commercial salvage, which met them in Buzzards Bay Thursday at approximately 3 a.m. The tow company brought Leonardo safely to New Bedford at around 5:30 a.m.
“Our crews acted quickly to tow the Leonardo out of the pass for both the safety of the crew aboard and to ensure safe navigation for other vessels transiting the area,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Shannon Helly, the command duty officer at Sector Southeastern New England's command center.