NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) — The U.S. Coast Guard said an explosive caught by a fishing vessel Wednesday morning was detonated.
According to Petty Officer Ryan Noel, the “Ocean State” hauled up the unexploded ordnance four nautical miles off the east coast of Block Island.
The vessel was instructed to anchor two miles west of Point Judith, while the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal group was called in to detonate the device.
All three crew members were evacuated and a one-mile safety zone was set up around the vessel for the 9 a.m. detonation.
Story continues below the image.
Ørsted US Offshore Wind, which operates the Block Island Wind Farm, said in a statement Wednesday that there is no link between the finding of the ordnance and offshore wind work. The company said their Marine Affairs team has found unexploded ordnances before in Rhode Island state waters.
“Since these surveys took place near historical defense sites, the finding of these confirmed UXOs wasn’t unusual,” a spokesperson for Ørsted said.
