Coast Guard rescues two from sinking boat off Kaneohe Bay
The Coast Guard rescued two men today from their sinking boat 35 miles east of Kaneohe Bay.
The Coast Guard’s MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point got to the two men at 2:34 a.m. and a rescue swimmer helped to hoist them up from their vessel, and they were flown back to the air station.
The captain of the 82-foot pleasure craft, Point Harris, notified the Coast Guard at 12:40 a.m. by VHF Channel 16 that the vessel was taking on water in its two forward compartments.
The men turned on their emergency positioning indicating radio beacon, and prepared to abandon ship, the Coast Guard said, adding that they could not get the dewatering pumps to work.
The Coast Guard also sent an HC-130 Hercules plane at 1:50 a.m. and the helicopter at 1:58 a.m. Its Cutter Ahi was also sent.
The plane first arrived on scene at 2:09 a.m., assessing the situation, followed by the helicopter. The swimmer assessed that the vessel was no longer safe.
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Winds were blowing 20 mph, and seas were 5 feet to 8 feet.
The vessel owner will work with the Coast Guard to salvage the vessel.