Coast Guard Airdrops Food, Water to Disabled Boat Off Montauk
The U.S. Coast Guard is responding Friday to a disabled fishing boat 86 miles southeast of Montauk—which has been at sea for eight days.
A good Samaritan boat alerted Coast Guard watchstanders in New Haven, Connecticut, that Endorphin, a 58-foot commercial fishing vessel homeported in Montauk, was adrift without power. Three crewmembers are aboard.
The crew who found that disabled boat were unable to tow it due to weather conditions, according to the Coast Guard, but they are staying in communication until a Coast Guard cutter can get their to relieve them.
An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod dropped food, water and a handheld radio to the crew of the disabled vessel, who had run out of food.
According to the Coast Guard, Cutter Tahoma, which is homeported in Boston, is heading to the location of the disabled vessel to tow it. Conditions there are reportedly seas of 8 to 13 feet, winds at 35 knots and a sea temperature of 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,” Captain Edward Cubanski, the commanding officer of Sector Long Island Sound, said. “We’re going to make every effort to get these mariners home safely.”