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U.S. Coast Guard First District

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News Release

Date: Aug. 7, 2009
Contact: Petty Officer 3rd Class Connie Terrell
(617) 223-8515

Coast Guard cutter towing disabled New Bedford, Mass., fishing boat

BOSTON — A Boston-based Coast Guard cutter crew is towing a New Bedford, Mass., fishing boat Friday, after it became disabled about 92 miles off the coast of Chatham, Mass., Thursday.

The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba arrived on scene around 7 a.m., Friday, and is towing the 72-foot fishing vessel Humbak and its four-person crew toward the Provincetown, Mass., anchorage which is located outside the Provincetown harbor. They are anticipated to arrive Saturday morning. This location and arrival time is subject to change.

One crewman aboard the Humbak has an infected finger and received medical assistance from the Escanaba crew, but does not need to be removed from the fishing boat at this time. There are no other reports of injuries aboard.  

The crew of the Humbak radioed Coast Guard Sector Boston on VHF-FM channel 16 around 4 a.m., Thursday, reporting they were disabled due to engine failure and in need of Coast Guard assistance.

Coast Guard Sector Boston and Sector Southeastern New England issued a marine assistance broadcast requesting mariners in the area to assist the disabled boat, but did not receive a response.

Currently on scene there are 15-knot winds and five-foot seas with five miles of visibility.  

The Humbak was towed by Coast Guard Cutter Tybee March 2, 2009, when it became disabled due to engine failure 30 miles east of Nantucket, Mass.

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