Coast Guard rescues 5 fishermen from sinking vessel near Grays Harbor, Wash.
The Coast Guard rescued five fishermen from the 56-foot commercial fishing vessel Taplow which began taking on water 19 miles south west of Grays Harbor, Friday. The men safely boarded a Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor 52-foot motor life boat and were transported by the crew to Grays Harbor. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River watchstanders received the distress call from the captain of the Taplow stating that they were taking on water, their engine room was half flooded and their pumps had stopped working. The watchstanders directed the crew to activate their Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon and don immersion suits. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued and the MLB as well as a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Sector Columbia River were directed to launch. An additional Sector Columbia River helicopter crew, who had landed at Grays Harbor for a personnel transfer, also responded to the vessel in distress. The helicopter crew that was at Grays Harbor was the first to arrive on scene with the Taplow, delivered a pump and remained on scene until they were relieved by the second helicopter crew. A rescue swimmer was then deployed to assist with the dewatering efforts and await the arrival of the Grays Harbor MLB crew. Link 23:06
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