An offshore supply vessel assisted in the rescue of nine people from a 55’ sport fishing yacht that was taking on water 17 miles off South Pass near Venice, La., late Saturday afternoon, the Coast Guard reported.
The 170’x36’x12’ Roman Elie, owned by REC Marine Logistics Inc., Galliano, La., contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans with a mayday call around 5 p.m., advising that the boat Strike Zone II was rapidly taking on water as its captain attempted to make a dash to shore.
The watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to summon other mariners for help, ordered the launch of a 45’ medium response boat from the Venice Coast Guard station, and diverted a New Orleans-based MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew already in the air to assist.
The Roman Elie and a second recreational vessel, the Family Therapy, responded to the scene. They transferred some of the crew off distressed vessel, and provided emergency pumps to get the flooding under control.
When the Coast Guard boat crew arrived they took Strike Zone II in tow, and with the Family Therapy carried the boat’s crew back to Cypress Cove Marina in Venice. No injuries were reported.
