40-foot boat remains submerged in Cape May Inlet after Coast Guard rescues 3
U.S. Coast Guard image.
The Coast Guard rescued three men after their boat sank in the Cape May Inlet, sending eleven fuel drums into the water.
The 40-foot cabin cruiser began sinking Wednesday night. The men were not wearing lifejackets when they were pulled from the water within minutes of the emergency call by a 29-foot “Response Boat-Small” crew. No one was injured.
“The entire evolution was very quick,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Steglich, Station Cape May’s officer of the day during the rescue. “We were preparing to get underway for night operations and training when we heard the distress call, and immediately launched the boat. Our crew arrived on scene and pulled the men out of the water in 11 minutes.”
The Coast Guard has recovered six of the fuel drums. The vessel remains submerged in the inlet. The Coast Guard is broadcasting safety information messages over VHF marine radio.
A joint response led by Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay includes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s New Jersey office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to minimize pollution threats from the sunken vessel.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report
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