BOSTON — Six people who abandoned ship after their fishing vessel caught fire 105 nautical miles east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Sunday, were rescued by the Coast Guard.
The fishing vessel Three Girls, a 81-foot trawler, had four crew members, the captain, and a NOAA observer onboard, the Coast Guard said.
The crew of Three Girls issued a mayday call, which the Coast Guard said it received at 8:56 p.m. The crew said the vessel was on fire and they were preparing to abandon ship. The First Coast Guard District command center also received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) from the vessel.
At 9 p.m., the Coast Guard diverted USCGC William Chadwick, a fast response cutter, to respond. An MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew and a HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod were launched to provide aerial support.
At 10:30 p.m., all Coast Guard assets along with the Three Girls’ sister ship, fishing vessel Princess Laura, arrived on scene and confirmed that all six people were onboard a life raft. The William Chadwick launched its small boat to recover the five crew and the monitor while the MH-60 Jayhawk waited on standby if immediate medical care was needed.
By 11:30 p.m., all six were onboard the William Chadwick, the Coast Guard said,. No major injuries reported.
On Monday morning, the crew of the William Chadwick transferred the survivors to a pier in South Portland.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our crew’s swift response in this rescue,” said Lt. Cmdr. Brent Lane, USCGC William Chadwick commanding officer, said in a prepared statement. “Their dedication and skill were crucial to the successful outcome, but it’s also a stark reminder of the importance of having the right safety equipment at all times. This rescue highlights that preparation and proper gear are as vital as the bravery and professionalism our team consistently displays.”
A Coast Guard spokesperson could not say where the Three Girls is homeported.