Coast Guard Rescues Three from Disabled Boat 45 Miles off Block Island

Three people stranded on a disabled boat adrift 45 miles off Block island Wednesday night are safe thanks to members of the U.S. Coast Guard, including support from a Motor Life Boat crew from Station Castle Hill in Newport.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead and the 45-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Castle Hill rescued the passengers aboard the vessel Blitzen after watchstanders at the Woods Hole command center received a distress call from the captain at around 4:15 p.m.

The captain said the vessel was having engine problems and they were disabled and adrift.

Search and rescue coordinators at the Sector Southeastern New England command center issued a marine assistance broadcast asking for help from a good Samaritan or a commercial salvage company but it went unanswered, prompting the Coast Guard to to divert the 87-foot Hammerhead to help.

They reached the disabled Blitzen and took the boat in tow at around 7 p.m.

The Hammerhead is expected to pass the tow to the Motor Life Boat crew early Thursday morning. If commercial salvage is unavailable, the Coasties expect to bring the Blitzen to Conanicut Marina in Jamestown.

“The Blitzen crew hailed us on Channel 16,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Richardson, a watchstander at Sector Southeastern New England. “A working VHF radio was the key to finding them quickly and communicating the towing plan for a safe journey back to Jamestown.”

Sector Southeastern New England’s area of responsibility is from Manomet Point in Massachusetts to Watch Hill Point in Rhode Island.