Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet assists disabled vessel in dense fog
On December 13, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet received a report of a 36’ ft. vessel with three persons on board that had run aground in the dense fog and was taking on water near Walter Slough channel.
The fishing vessel, Crime Scene, arrived shortly after the call to assist the grounded vessel, and to put them in tow to Wanchese Harbor. Station Oregon Inlet’s 24’ ft. Shallow Water Craft and crew launched to respond to the distressed vessel, navigating with 200 yards of visibility.
The disabled vessel was taking on water through its shaft seal, which was pulled out of place when it ran aground. The shaft seal is a rubber gasket located where the shaft going to the boat’s props passes through the hull. F/V Crime Scene passed a wax o-ring gasket to help stop the flow of water on board, while the Coast Guard crew arrived on scene to assist in escorting the vessel. The load of the tow became too much for the F/V Crime Scene, and they broke tow. The vessel was then able to get one engine running, and the Coast Guard crew was able to complete the escort safely into Wanchese Harbor.
“A special thanks to the Good Samaritan F/V Crime Scene for stopping and assisting a fellow mariner,” stated Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet in a social media update.
No injuries were reported during the incident.
