Cape Cod Today reports the Coast Guard dispatched rescue crews to aid fishermen from a fishing vessel taking on water after a collision southeast of Hull, Massachusetts on January 11, 2011.
Coast Guard Sector Boston received a distress call from the 600′ bulk carrier vessel, West Bay, stating they and the 51′ fishing vessel Michael Brandon, collided 20 miles southeast of Hull. The West Bay reported no damage to its hull, but the Michael Brandon had extensive damage to the bow.
A Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter, from Air Station Cape Cod, and a 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew, from Station Point Allerton, diverted to the scene of the collision.
The helicopter crew, on scene within 30 minutes, lowered a de-watering pump to the fishing vessel to assist with flooding control. Unable to dewater and repair the vessel offshore, the lifeboat crew took the Michael Brandon in tow. The collision is under investigation.
