Good Samaritans Help Disabled Boat Off Barnegat Light: Coast Guard

BARNEGAT LIGHT, NJ — Thanks to the help of good Samaritans and the Coast Guard, a disabled fishing vessel was rescued off the coast of Barnegat Light Tuesday, according to a Coast Guard news release.

Four were aboard the 64-foot commercial fishing vessel Monica became disabled about 85 miles from the coast Tuesday morning, Coast Guard officials said.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New York contacted the Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay command center at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to relay that a person aboard the fishing vessel Monica sent a distress hail reporting they were experiencing transmission issues offshore and needed help returning to shore.

Good Samaritans aboard the nearby commercial fishing vessel Alexandria Dawn heard the distress call and diverted course in order to help, the Coast Guard said.

The Alexandria Dawn crew arrived on scene and began to tow the Monica towards Barnegat Light, according to officials.

Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders communicated with boat vessels during the towing.

A commercial salvage company that was contacted to assist with the towing operation rendezvoused with the two vessels and took over the towing operation five-miles offshore from Barnegat Light, Coast Guard officials said.

Additionally, Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light deployed two Motor Life Boat (MLB) crews to standby for support.

Due to deteriorating weather conditions, current hazardous conditions of Barnegat Inlet and the capabilities of the salvage vessel, it was determined the safest course of action was to transfer the tow responsibility to one of the Station Barnegat Light MLB crews, according to Coast Guard officials.

At about 4:30 p.m., the MLB crew assumed control of the tow and safely towed Monica into Barnegat Inlet.

The second MLB crew took the Monica in a side tow and transferred the disabled boat's crew safely into Lighthouse Marina, where the Monica was securely moored.

A post search and rescue law enforcement boarding found zero safety violations.

The Coast Guard rescue crew consisted of Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Henry, Petty Officer 1st Class Kyle Pluard, Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Elliott, Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Del Real, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle MacPherson, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Kesinger, Petty Officer 3rd Class Owen Hall, Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Juhlmann, and Seaman Christopher Bassoline.