Coast Guard rescues five fishermen

BOSTON, Mass. (WPRI) -- The Coast Guard was called in on Thursday to help five fishermen stuck on a sinking ship.

At approximately 3:45 a.m on February 21, the Coast Guard rescued five people from a sinking fishing vessel located about 100 miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass.

A distress call from the 80-foot fishing vessel named 'Megan-Marie' was received by Sector Southeastern New England Command Center on Wednesday night around 6:40.

Weather conditions were reportedly 10 to 14-foot seas and 25-knot winds.

The fishing vessel had all the required safety gear on board, but the de-watering pumps were not keeping up with the flooding. A hole located under the engine block was the suspected source of the flooding.

Three pumps were delivered by aircraft, allowing the fishing crew to control the flooding.

“The new HC-144 Ocean Sentry out of Air Station Cape Cod has only been standing the watch a few weeks and this was a major search and rescue response," said Lt. Joe Klinker, 1st Coast Guard District public affairs officer.

The boat was escorted safely to a New Bedford, Massachusetts port.