MOBILE, Ala. – The Coast Guard rescued nine people over the course of two separate incidents in the Gulf of Mexico, Saturday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile were notified that a 36-foot recreational fishing vessel with five people aboard was taking on water 47 miles south of Dauphin Island at 12:08 p.m. The watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Dauphin Island 45-foot Response Boat –Medium and crew and an Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed wing aircraft crew to assist.
The boatcrew arrived on scene and transferred a dewatering pump to the fishing vessel to assist the crew with dewatering.
During the escort of the fishing vessel into Orange Beach, Ala., Sector Mobile watchstanders were notified of another vessel near Dauphin Island taking on water, at 2:45 p.m. The boatcrew brought aboard the five passengers from the fishing vessel, and diverted to the next vessel in distress.
A 21-foot pleasure craft was reported to be taking on water 30 miles south of Dauphin Island.
The Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed wing aircraft, already in the area from the previous case, arrived on scene within seven minutes of the distress call and dropped a life raft to the people in the pleasure craft. The four people abandoned their vessel after it capsized and entered the life raft.
The Station Dauphin Island boatcrew arrived on scene and brought the people aboard from the life raft.
The boatcrew is transferring all nine people to Orange Beach, Ala.
All nine people rescued were reported to be wearing life jackets.
There were no reported injuries.