Northeast Coast Guard units respond to disabled fishing vessel off MontaukNEW YORK – The Coast Guard is responding to a disabled vessel approximately 86 miles south east of Montauk, N.Y., today.
Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound communication watchstanders, in New Haven, Conn., received notification from a good samaritan vessel relaying communications for the disabled vessel Endorphin, a 58-foot commercial fishing homeported in Montauk, N.Y., that the disabled vessel reported they were adrift and without power, nearly 86 miles offshore with three crewmembers aboard.
The good samaritan crew was unable to tow the vessel due to weather conditions, but is maintaining communications between the Coast Guard communications center and the vessel and until a Coast Guard cutter is able to relieve them.
A rescue aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Mass., conducted a supply drop consisting of food, water and a handheld radio. The crew, who’ve been underway for eight days, reported they had run out of food and had no means of communication.
The Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma, homeported in Boston, is transiting to the vessel’s location to tow the disabled vessel.
Weather conditions reported at the vessel Endorphin’s location consist of seas of 8-13 feet, winds 35 knots and sea temperature at 32 degrees.
“The harsh weather the vessel is experiencing, along with the forecasted weather for the weekend, always adds a level of risk to any rescue operation,” said Capt. Edward Cubanski, commanding officer of Sector Long Island Sound. "We’re going to make every effort to get these mariners home safely.”
The vessel Endorphine, a 58-foot commercial fishing vessel moored to a pier in Montauk, N.Y., July 6, 2006. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
