NEW ORLEANS – A Coast Guard Station Venice boatcrew is towing a disabled sailing vessel with three people aboard to Venice after they began taking on water in the Gulf of Mexico, Saturday.
Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a notification at approximately 11:46 a.m., that the 37-foot sailing vessel Lunar Eclipse was taking on water. The watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a 45-foot Response Boat—Medium crew from Station Venice to assist.
Two good Samaritan vessels, the Norman Clipper and Islander Performer, arrived on scene to help the sailing vessel crew. The helicopter crew arrived on scene shortly after and lowered a dewatering pump to help the sailing vessel.
The station boatcrew arrived on scene at 2:18 p.m., and took the Lunar Eclipse in tow to take them to Venice Marina. They are scheduled to arrive in Venice around 9 p.m.
There were no reported injuries.