NEW YORK – Coast Guard and two fishing crews aided the crew of a fishing vessel taking on water near New London Ledge Light, Conn., today.

The Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, Conn., command center received a distress call at 5:15 a.m. from the crew aboard the 38-foot fishing vessel Decisive, stating they were taking on water. An urgent marine information broadcast was issued requesting any vessels in the area to assist.

The command center instructed the crew to put on their lifejackets and launched a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station New London, who responded along with two nearby fishing vessel crews.

“Once we arrived on scene we were able to determined the vessel was sea worthy so we transferred a crewmember over to assist in dewatering,” said Petty Officer 2^nd Class Matthew Vail, the Coast Guard boat coxswain. “We escorted the vessel while a Good Samaritan towed it back to port.”

A Coast Guard crewmember was transferred to the vessel to de-water and render assistance. The vessel was de-watered then taken in tow by one of the fishing vessels. The Coast Guard crew escorted the boats to Shaw Cove Marina where it was safely moored.

BOSTON — Recreational boating and paddling fatalities on waters of the northeastern U.S. have remained nearly the same for the second year in a row.

The 1st Coast Guard District recorded a preliminary total of 51 deaths during 2011. There were 50 fatalities in 2009 and 51 fatalities in 2010. Capsizing or falling overboard while not wearing a life jacket were the main factors resulting in fatalities.

Boating fatalities were divided between 29 deaths on motorized vessels and 22 deaths on non-motorized vessels.

Due to the tremendous growth in kayaking over the past decade, and the long-standing interest in canoeing, northeastern paddle-sport fatalities are typically double the national average.

Out of the 51 deaths last year, 44 of the boaters were not wearing lifejackets.

"Lifejackets save lives," said Walt Taylor, recreational boating safety specialist, 1st Coast Guard District "Take a boating education course, ensure you have all the required safety equipment to have a safe and fun boating season next year."

One memorable case in 2011 involved the death of N.Y. Police Department officer Patrick Luca who drowned while kayaking with his son off Long Island (Click here for original release). The high-profile nature of the case captured public interest and emphasized the significance of simple decisions, like wearing a life jacket.

"It's extremely important to get these statistics out," said Lt. Joe Klinker, 1st Coast Guard District public affairs officer. "But it's even more important for all of us to realize that these aren't just numbers. They were friends, parents, spouses, sons and daughters. They were neighbors in a very close maritime community."

While the Coast Guard continues to deliver the message of safe boating, this year, said Klinker. The Coast Guard is making a special plea to the friends and families of all boaters: Hold your loved ones accountable and make sure they take the right steps to come home safe.

RESOURCES:

For a geographic breakdown and overall numbers of incidents and fatalities in 2011, click here.

For boating safety information, click here.

As the Coast Guard records the national statistics for 2011, the 2010 information is available here.

Safe-boating courses are available through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons. Course information may be found at:

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
U.S. Power Squadrons
U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Seaman Ryan Rose, a native of Oakland Park, Fla., was selected as Coast Guard Station New York’s Sailor of the Quarter for Oct. 1, 2011 through Dec. 31^st, 2011.

Station New York’s Sailor of the Quarter Program is designed to recognize exemplary performance.  A number of outstanding personnel at the unit qualify and are nominated for this recognition, but the honor of Sailor of the Quarter is bestowed to only one nominee.  Final selection of the Sailor of the Quarter is based on the member’s ability to demonstrate exceptional performance in the areas of adherence to the Coast Guard’s Core Values and embodiment of the Coast Guard Ethos, leadership, specialty and technical knowledge, initiative, responsibility, teamwork and community/shipmate support.

Coast Guard Station New York is the largest and busiest coastal search and rescue small boat station in the Coast Guard. During an average busy month, unit personnel may complete more than 30 search and rescue cases, conduct hundreds of vessel boardings, as well as security boardings of large merchant vessels entering the Port of New York and New Jersey. During fiscal year 2011, Station New York:

   - Prosecuted 125 search and rescue cases

   - Conducted nearly 400 vessel boardings, 100 of which were high-interest vessels

   - Conducted more than 1,000 escorts of high-capacity passenger vessels

   - Conducted more than 100 security zone enforcement activities

  - Spent nearly 5,900 total hours underway – of those hours, 3,600 were dedicated to Ports, Waterways &  Coastal Security (PWCS).

View Coast Guard transports three to shore near Shinnecock, N.Y. in a larger map

NEW YORK – The Coast Guard transported three people to shore after they abandoned ship 12 miles south of Shinnecock, Long Island, N.Y., Sunday.

View Coast Guard boarding team terminates vessel voyage for safety concerns in a larger map

NEW YORK – A Coast Guard boarding team terminated a vessel voyage in the waters near Sandy Hook, N.J., today.

While performing a routine vessel safety check four miles from Sandy Hook, a boarding team from the Coast Guard Cutter Bainbridge Island noted one violation – the 36-foot commercial fishing vessel had only one immersion suit for the two people aboard. 

“Our primary concern is for the safety of the maritime community,” said Patrick Petrarca, an operations specialist with Coast Guard Sector New York.  “Winter conditions on the water can be dangerous, and it is important that mariners are properly equipped to handle those challenges.”

The Coast Guard crew escorted the vessel to Sandy Hook, and will follow up with the owner to ensure the correction of violation. 

The Coast Guard stresses the importance of having the required safety equipment on-board commercial and recreational vessels at all times.

View Coast Guard terminates vessel voyage for safety concerns in a larger map

NEW YORK – A Coast Guard boarding team from Station New Haven, Conn., terminated a vessel voyage in the New Haven Harbor today.

While performing routine vessel safety checks, the Coast Guard boarding team noted three violations: the 40-foot commercial fishing vessel had inadequate firefighting equipment, expired signal flares and excessive fuel in its bilges.

“Our primary concern is always the safety of the maritime community,” said John Olsen, a Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, Conn., command duty officer. “Winter conditions on the water can be dangerous here; it’s important mariners are properly equipped to handle the challenges on the water.”

The Coast Guard towed the vessel to its homeport in New Haven after it became disabled during the safety boarding. The Coast Guard will follow up with the owner to ensure the correction of violations.

The Coast Guard stresses the importance of having the required safety equipment on board commercial and recreational vessels at all times.

View Coast Guard rescues man in Long Island Sound in a larger map

NEW YORK – The Coast Guard rescued a man who was experiencing chest pains aboard his boat in Long Island Sound south of East Haven, Conn., today.

The Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center in New Haven received notification from the Branford, Conn., Police Department of the 50-year-old mariner in distress, who was also reporting that his sail was fouled and there was water in his vessel’s bilge.  The command center deployed a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station New Haven with an emergency medical specialist aboard.

Once on scene, the Coast Guard rescue crew observed that the 24-foot sailing vessel’s electrical system was not operating properly, the radio was inoperable and the bilge pumps were not functioning.  The mariner was able to call for help on his cell phone.  Weather conditions on scene were reported as 4- to 6-foot waves with wind at 15 to 30 knots and poor visibility.

The patient was taken aboard the Coast Guard boat and was transferred to the Branford town dock to waiting emergency medical specialists.  His condition was reported as stable.

“Sometimes things happen on the water.  That’s why we’re here,” said Mark Averill, a command duty officer with the Coast Guard command center in New Haven.

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that mariners, both commercial and recreational, maintain their vessel’s safety equipment and overall readiness.  It is vitally important to inspect the vessel’s radio before getting underway.

View Coast Guard terminates vessel voyage for safety concerns in a larger map

NEW YORK – A Coast Guard boarding team from Station New Haven, Conn., terminated a vessel voyage in the waters south of Sachem Head, near Guilford, Conn., today.

While conducting a joint agency operation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), a boarding team comprised of Coast Guard and DEEP personnel noted three violations: the 40-foot fishing vessel was missing a fire extinguisher, had no day shapes and no sound-producing device.

“We work closely with the Department of Environmental Protection,” said Mark Averill, a command duty officer with the Coast Guard command center in New Haven, Conn.  “Our primary concern in this instance was the safety of the fishing vessel; the voyage was terminated due to safety issues.”

The vessel was escorted to its homeport of Guilford Harbor.  The Coast Guard will follow up with the owner to ensure the correction of violations.

The Coast Guard stresses the importance of having the required safety equipment on board commercial and recreational vessels at all times.

NEW YORK – The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of a fishing vessel due to safety concerns 13 miles east of Long Branch, N.J., today.

A boarding team from the Coast Guard Cutter Tybee noted that there was inadequate safety gear aboard the 78-foot Jaime Mae and terminated their voyage. A boatcrew from Station Manasquan Inlet, N.J., escorted the vessel to its home port of Point Pleasant, N.J.

“The vessel’s voyage was terminated because this was a violation that could not be corrected on the spot,” said Chief Petty Officer Rodger Krass, command duty officer with the Coast Guard’s Sector New York command center.

Vessesl operators must ensure they have the proper safety equipment on board and to know how to use the gear that could save their life if an emergency were to occur. 

This was the vessel’s second voyage termination this month. The previous violations were corrected, which enabled the crew to get underway.

The Coast Guard Cutter Tybee is homeported in Woods Hole, Mass.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public comments about Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s proposal to modify the Bayonne Bridge, across Kill Van Kull between Staten Island, N.Y., and Bayonne, N.J.

Members of the Coast Guard’s bridges office in New York are reviewing the project to increase the navigational clearance beneath the bridge.

The public may comment until Dec. 9, 2011, in writing to

First District Bridge Branch:
First Coast Guard District (dpb)
Battery Park Bldg, 1 South Street
New York, NY 10004

For more information about the proposed bridge modification plan, visit: http://goo.gl/ap9Ql.