USCG Rescues 2 Fishermen near Block Island

Coast Guard crews rescued two fishermen from a sinking vessel 10 miles south of Newport, Rhode Island, Monday.

At approximately noon, the two person crew of the 38-foot fishing boat More Misery notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England in Woods Hole, Massachusetts that they were taking on water and needed help.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod and two 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crews from Coast Guard Station Castle Hill and Coast Guard Station Point Judith were launched. The Station Castle Hill crew arrived on scene and successfully transferred the two fishermen aboard. Shortly after, Coast Guard crews began dewatering the More Misery and safely towed it back to Newport.

"This case highlights the importance of having the right safety equipment on board," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Timothy Chan, a watchstander at Sector Southeastern New England's command center. He said in this case, the fishermen were prepared with a raft, immersion suits, flares, and an emergency position indicating radio beacon, in case they needed to abandon ship. "Luckily, our crews were on scene before they had to."