Now the Real Story: Coast Guard Crews Respond to Boat Taking on Water Near Duxbury Reef

The incident of a vessel taking on water off of Duxbury Reef on Sunday has been widely reported. Unfortunately, most of the reports are filled with misinformation and this has been detrimental to Superfish Charter Fishing. Following is an actual account of what happened.

On Sunday afternoon, 7 September, fishing vessel Flash out of San Francisco began taking on water off of Duxbury Reef. Flash sent a distress call over channel 16. Superfish, a charter fishing vessel out of Emeryville Marina, intercepted the call. Superfish had just passed Flash and turned to assist while calling other nearby charter fishing vessels, also out of Emeryville Marina, to assist. New Huck Finn and C-Gull II joined Superfish to assist Flash.

In 3 to 4 foot seas, Superfish crew transferred the passengers, who had already donned life jackets, from Flash to the Superfish. There were six passengers. Flash, a smaller fishing vessel, operates with up to six passengers and a captain, no additional crew is required. The captain of Flash remained at the helm keeping his bilge pumps running. Once the passengers were safely transferred to Superfish, New Huck Finn pulled-up to Flash and transferred their crew member to Flash to assist the captain who could not leave the helm. C-Gull II then pulled up and transferred a high-volume pump and electric extension cord to the assisting crew member. The generator on the C-Gull II powered the pump which was placed in the flooding engine room. The crew member went below to find that the water was entering through the shaft packing gland; he was able to stop the leak and they continued de-watering the boat. After another 15 minutes or so, the first and smaller of two Coast Guard boats arrived on the scene and transferred a larger pump to Flash. When the Coast Guard boarded Flash, New Huck Finn pulled-up and retrieved their crew member. A larger Coast Guard vessel arrived afterwards and prepared to take Flash in tow.

Superfish was released from the scene by the Coast Guard and proceeded to transport the six rescued passengers to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf where their trip had begun. The Coast Guard subsequently released New Huck Finn and C-Gull II from the scene and towed Flash to San Francisco.

“Commercial Fishing Vessel Superfish’s quick response to the urgent marine information broadcast aided in the successful removal of all passengers from a vessel had the situation worsened ...,” said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Shawn Lansing, Sector San Francisco command center supervisor.

Please, assist in correcting any misreports disseminated, published or broadcast.

Attempts to contact the Patch to correct their earlier misinformation have been unsuccessful.