[media-credit name=”Coast Guard Cutter Lawrence Lawson ” align=”aligncenter” width=”800″]
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Seven boaters were rescued by good Samaritans after their boat sank off the Coast of Cape May, New Jersey, Saturday, August 4, 2018, according to the Coast Guard.
Officials said the Coast Guard received a distress call over VHF channel 16 stating the Beach Runner, a boat with seven people aboard, was rapidly taking on water approximately nine miles offshore at Cape May reef, at approximately 9 a.m.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) to alert boaters in the area that a vessel was in distress, while simultaneously launching a 45-foot rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Cape May and diverting the 154-foot Coast Guard Cutter Lawrence Lawson to the scene.
The crew of the Miss Addison and the crew of the Porgy IV, both good Samaritan vessels, heard the UMIB and quickly responded to aid the sinking vessel.
Once the good Samaritan crews were on-scene they provided radio communications to the Coast Guard while they assisted, as the crew of the Beach Runner began to head to shore.
Officials said the Beach Runner sank en route to shore, which resulted in all seven people entering the water. All were wearing lifejackets.
The crew of the Miss Addison took the boaters aboard and then safely brought them to Cape May.
“This is a perfect example of boaters and the maritime community doing the right thing in an emergency situation,” said David Umberger, command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay. “From everyone wearing life jackets to all boaters having radios tuned to channel 16 – this case illustrates how good communication and safety measures bring rescuers together to quickly and effectively help those who are in need.”