NANTUCKET – Three crewmembers were rescued early Wednesday morning after a commercial fishing vessel caught fire off the coast of Nantucket.
Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England reported that they received a distress call over Channel 16 shortly before 4 AM reporting that the commercial fishing vessel Hadley Ruth was on fire and that its crew of three had abandoned the vessel.
The Coast Guard issued an urgent broadcast and launched an MH-60 helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod. A Coast Guard boat from Station Brant Point in Nantucket was also dispatched to assist.
A second commercial fishing vessel, the Lightning Bay, was in the area and responded to the emergency. Its crew located the three Hadley Ruth crewmembers in a life raft and notified the Coast Guard.
All three fishermen were confirmed safe and were reported to have no medical concerns.
“The exceptional and rapid response conducted by the CFV Lightning Bay BAY is an example of how the maritime community comes together in times of crisis at sea, and emphasizes how important life-saving and communications equipment can be in saving lives,” said Commander Clifton Graham, the Coast Guard’s search-and-rescue mission coordinator.
The Coast Guard is also conducting an overflight of the area to look for potential pollution from the vessel and help protect the surrounding marine environment.
Additional information about the cause of the fire and the condition and location of the Hadley Ruth was not immediately provided.
