Coast Guard Rescues 8 People On Disabled Boat Near Sheepshead Bay

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued eight people Monday from a disabled boat drifting in the ocean near Sheepshead Bay.

The captain of the distressed vessel, a 22-foot recreational boat, phoned the Coast Guard at 5pm to say he and his passengers were adrift at sea and unable to anchor, according to a press release.

The Coast Guard immediately dispatched their 45-foot Response Boat, which met up with the disabled vessel at 5:08pm east of the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, rescuers say.

“The captain of the disabled boat called Station New York directly and requested help,” Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Starace said in the press release. “Because they had a cell phone onboard and called for assistance, the boat crew was able to respond in less than 10 minutes.”

The Coast Guard says cell phones are important for boaters. However, they are not the only tools mariners should rely on. A properly working VHF-radio is also encouraged.

Rescuers pulled the eight passengers from the disabled vehicle and helped tow it to a commercial salvage, the Coast Guard reports.