Coast Guard Rescues Four Mariners off Central

Oregon Coast Coast Guard crew from Oregon safely recovered four of the five crewmen from the water this morning when the 99-foot Ocean Going Tug PRIMO BRUSCO sank 18 miles off Florence, Ore. The Coast Guard is continuing the search for the one remaining crewman, believed to be wearing his survival suit. At 2:30 a.m., the master of the PRIMO BRUSCO reported flooding and within five minutes the crew abandoned the ship. Three of the crew took refuge in the tug’s life raft, while the other two were reported to have entered the water in immersion suits. Two rescue helicopters arrived on scene and quickly located the life raft. The three on board the life raft were recovered by a Coast Guard rescue boat. One helicopter crew located a person in the water and hoisted him to safety. He was taken to the hospital in Florence for evaluation. All four men were recovered in good condition. Another helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, a Motor Lifeboat from Coast Guard Station Umpqua River, and a C-130 fixed wing aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento are assisting in the search. The weather at the time of the sinking was reported to be 50-knot winds, 30-foot seas, and rain.