Fishermen Rescued After Vessel Fire Off Nantucket

Three fishermen were rescued off Nantucket early Wednesday after abandoning their burning fishing vessel approximately 25 nautical miles southwest of the island. The crew of the Hadley Ruth, a 65-foot fishing vessel, issued a distress call around 3:55 a.m. reporting the boat was on fire and that they were abandoning ship. Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England responded by dispatching an MH-60 helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Brant Point on Nantucket. While the helicopter was en route to the vessel's last known position, another fishing boat in the area, the Lightning Bay, located the three crew members in a life raft and rescued them before the Coast Guard lifeboat had even gotten underway from Nantucket Harbor, according to Station Brant Point master chief John Lowell. The crew was confirmed found, safe, with no medical concerns, Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England said in a press release. Commander Clifton Graham, the search-and-rescue mission coordinator, praised the Lightning Bay's response as an example of how the maritime community comes together during emergencies at sea, and highlighted the importance of life-saving and communications equipment aboard vessels. The three fishermen were returned to Point Judith, Rhode Island. The Coast Guard is conducting an overflight of the area to check for potential pollution from the Hadley Ruth and to help protect the maritime environment.