NEW YORK – Coast Guard crews, a local partner agency and a good Samaritan responded to a collision on the water, 17 miles south of Shinnecock, New York, Sunday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound received a distress call via VHF channel 16 from fishing vessel Elizabeth J reporting a person in the water as a result of a collision between their vessel and the vessel Nina Marie at approximately 10 a.m. Sunday.
The Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and launched two smallboat crews from Coast Guard Station Shinnecock , who responded to the scene along with sea tow crewmembers. A boater from the vessel Nina Marie reported the person in the water was safely recovered however, their vessel began taking on water. All boaters were instructed to put on their life jackets and wait for Coast Guard crews to arrive.
The Coast Guard crews arrived on scene and began searching for the two fishing vessels. A Coast Guard crewmembers witnessed what they believed to be white smoke from canister flare though its position was often obscured by fog. A Good Samaritan aboard the fishing vessel Adventuress heard the UMIB and located a life raft near the position passed and recovered five people in good health at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Coast Guard crews arrived on scene and safely transferred all five people from the vessel Adventuress and transported them to station Shinnecock. The vessel Elizabeth J had completely sunk, and the vessel Nina Marie was capsized and partially submerged. Sea Tow crews remain on scene and will make safe efforts to recover the vessel Nina Marie.
“Contacting the Coast Guard immediately and having the proper safety gear aboard their vessels is what greatly contributed to the success of this case ,” said Lt. j.g. Martin Betts, public affairs officer for Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. “Wearing a life jacket at all times while on the water is one of the most important things boaters can do to keep themselves safe.”
There were no life-threatening injuries reported and the cause of the collision is under investigation.