Coast Guard Rescues Distressed Boaters

Coast Guard crews from Texas and Florida rescued three people from their sinking fishing boat Tuesday 30 miles southwest of Marsh Island, La. Air Station Houston, and the cutters Seahawk and Manta all responded to an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) received by the Eighth District Command Center about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. About the same time, Coast Guard Group Galveston, Texas, received a report from the crew of the fishing vessel Capt. Jenson that the fishing vessel Marie Anna was taking on water. Shortly thereafter, Capt. Jenson's crew observed three red flares in the vicinity of the distressed boat crew. An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew arrived on scene about 7:30 a.m. and lowered dewatering pumps to Marie Anna's crew. The crew from the Seahawk delivered another pump about 10:30 a.m. At 2:26 p.m., the crew of the Seahawk determined the pumps to be unable to keep up with the flooding and removed all three crewmembers from the Marie Anna. The boaters were later transferred to the Manta and taken to Calcasieu, La., southwest of Lake Charles. There were no injuries reported. The Marie Anna is presently anchored and marked with two strobe lights on its bow and stern. The Seahawk is an 87-ft. patrol boat from Carrabelle, Fla. The Manta is an 87-ft. patrol boat from Freeport, Texas.