U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews responded to a report of three people in distress aboard a vessel taking on water approximately 22 miles southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge Tuesday evening.
The Coast Guard Sector San Francisco command center received a call at approximately 7:25 p.m. from a person aboard commercial fishing vessel Leslie Jane stating that the vessel was taking on water at an unknown rate.
The Coast Guard launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat from Coast Guard Station Golden Gate and a rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco.
An urgent marine information broadcast was issued, requesting assistance from local mariners. Commercial fishing vessels Drake and Hyundai Shanghai responded until Coast Guard assets arrived on scene.
Air Station San Francisco’s helicopter rescue crew lowered a life raft to a standby position in case of further emergency, but the vessel’s flooding was stabilized.
The crew from Station Golden Gate transferred multiple Coast Guard personnel aboard to assist with dewatering the Leslie Jane as they transited to a local pier with the stricken vessel in tow.
[mappress] Press Release, May 14, 2014; Image: USCG