Coast Guard aids vessel taking on water near Westport

News Release

July 6, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest Contact: 11th District Public Affairs Office: (510) 437-3325 After Hours: (510) 772-8865

Coast Guard aids vessel taking on water near Westport

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MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — The Coast Guard responded Thursday to a report of a vessel taking on water with eight people aboard approximately a mile off the coast of Westport.

Boaters aboard the 32-foot vessel Samurai contacted Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders using a marine-band radio at approximately 12:30 p.m., reporting that their boat was taking on water and they were in need of assistance.

The Coast Guard dispatched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Noyo River and an MH-65D Dolphin rescue helicopter crew from Sector Humboldt Bay.

The vessel Ambush, a good Samaritan boat nearby, arrived on scene first and transferred six of the eight passengers of the Samurai to the Ambush. Two passengers stayed aboard the Samurai to continue dewatering efforts.

The Station Noyo River boat crew arrived on scene and transferred an engineering crewmember and a dewatering pump to the Samurai.

With the dewatering pump keeping the vessel afloat, the Samurai was escorted back to Noyo River without further incident.

-USCG-