2 Rescued From Sinking Boat In Delaware Bay Off NJ

FORTESCUE, NJ — Two people were rescued from a boat sinking in Delaware Bay off Fortescue on Saturday, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay were notified by people on the 47-foot vessel, Floating Dock, that it was rapidly taking on water.

The boat hit a submerged object in Delaware Bay, putting a hole in the bow, and the two mariners put on life jackets and tried to stop the water, but were not successful, the Coast Guard said.

A Coast Guard Station Fortescue 29-foot Small-II crew arrived and the crew tried to pump the water off the boat, but they could not keep up with the pace of flooding, officials said.

The two mariners were transferred to the Coast Guard vessel and transported to shore with no reported injuries.

A Coast Guard Station Cape May 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew arrived to assist with dewatering, but the vessel quickly capsized and sank in 18 feet of water.

The Coast Guard said the sunken vessel is marked with a fender and a Safety Marine Information Broadcast was issued to warn mariners in the area of the partially submerged boat.

There are no reports of pollution, the Coast Guard said.