On February 7, Friday, a USCG helicopter aircrew came to the rescue and airlifted four men after their fishing vessel ran aground near Shackleford Banks, North Carolina, a few miles from Cape Lookout.
Specifically, at approximately 0330 hours, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina’s command center received a distress call from a crewmember onboard the “Tamara Alane” vessel, reporting that the vessel had been disabled due to fuel issues and ran aground, taking on water.
Therefore, the crewmember asked for help to be removed due to harsh weather conditions.
It is reported that a warning had been issued in effect for the Cape Lookout area on Friday, with westerly winds of 25-35 knots and seas of nine to 12 feet.
An aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City launched to the scene. Two members from the vessel managed to jump over the side of the vessel to the water and swam to shore. The remaining two members were lifted off the vessel’s deck.
The helicopter transmitted all survivors to Michael J. Smith Airport in Beaufort.
Overall, there have been no injuries reported or any signs of pollution. Yet, the USCG will closely monitor the grounded vessel and conduct salvage operations.
Chief Warrant Officer Kristen Auer, command duty officer at the Sector North Carolina command center concluded
The fishermen did the right thing by calling us as soon as possible … With the deteriorating weather conditions, the situation could have gone from bad to worse.
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