Efforts underway to remove grounded vessel near Oregon Inlet

A fishing vessel that became disabled over the weekend is in the process of being towed away from the spot where it was intentionally grounded on Monday, December 11, near the south side of Oregon Inlet.

The vessel, the F/V Lady Denise, became disabled off of Hatteras on Sunday afternoon when one of its outriggers broke. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, U.S. Coast Guard personnel from Station Hatteras Inlet began towing the vessel north towards Station Oregon Inlet, which took over operations in the middle of the night on Sunday, December 10.

Station Oregon Inlet deployed two 47-foot motor lifeboats to tow the Lady Denise, but because of the excess weight of the vessel as well as the ongoing storm, the vessel was temporarily set on the southern shoal bordering the inlet.

Four people were on board during the incident, and were removed from the vessel by helicopter due to the stormy and unsafe conditions. There were no injuries reported during the incident.

A commercial salvage company was later contracted to remove the vessel from the shoreline.

“After the vessel was set onto the shoal, the vessel moved inshore slightly and laid on the south jetty along the beach, where the commercial salvage contractor was able to remove it,” said Chief Adam Preiser of Station Oregon Inlet. “They are currently in the process of towing them to Beaufort [North Carolina] for repairs.”

Meanwhile, a second grounded vessel in the Oregon Inlet area – a 30-foot-long sailboat that ran aground on November 5, 2023 – is also in the process of being removed, per an update from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The sailboat, named the Monolow Captain, was grounded approximately one mile south of the Basnight Bridge along the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and remains on the beach as of mid-December.

“The sailboat owner is organizing its removal,” stated Sarah Toner, Visitor Services Manager for the Coastal North Carolina NWR Complex in an update. “We’ve permitted access to the refuge and we’re continuing to coordinate with him on those plans.”