Sinking Vessel off SW Washington, Sept. 4

The Coast Guard rescued two people and saved a boat from sinking 15 miles north of the Grays Harbor entrance, in Washington, Saturday morning, Aug. 2. Boat crews aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat and a 29-foot Response Boat – Small II from Station Grays Harbor, located in Westport, passed the boaters a dewatering pump that was able to keep up with the flooding and then escorted the vessel to shore while actively dewatering the boat. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia received a call from the operator of a 22-foot pleasure craft at 11:15 a.m., reporting their boat taking on water. The watchstanders immediately directed the launch of the two boat crews, an aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and diverted the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Lion, an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Bellingham, Washington, who were on patrol in the vicinity of the incident. The Station Grays Harbor boat crews arrived on scene first and two crewmembers boarded the vessel taking on water, passed over a radio and a P-6 dewatering pump. The crews of the Sea Lion and the helicopter were released from the scene after the boat crews stabilized the flooding and began escorting the vessel to shore. On scene sea conditions included 2 to 4-foot seas and winds were 5 to 10 mph from the northwest.