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Press Release | Aug. 23, 2023

PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard assists 4 aboard vessel taking on water near Georgetown, South Carolina

PADET Jacksonville - Office: (904) 714-7606 / After Hours: (786) 393-4138

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Coast Guard assisted four people, Wednesday, after their 52-foot catamaran began taking on water near Georgetown.

Coast Guard Sector Charleston command center watchstanders received a report at 10:17 a.m., from a commercial salvage company stating they were attempting to assist a vessel that had struck the Winyah Bay northern jetty and was slowly taking on water with four people aboard. The damaged vessel was able to drift off the jetty and anchor.

Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Georgetown Response Boat–Small crew and a Coast Guard Air Station Savannah Dolphin helicopter crew to assist. 

The RB–S crew arrived on scene and a Coast Guard member boarded the vessel to assess the situation. The crew member was able to determine that the bilge pumps were keeping up with the flooding and helped start the starboard engine.

The damaged vessel was escorted to calmer waters by the boat crew until commercial salvage took over the escort.

On scene weather conditions were reported to be 25 knot winds with 3 to 4-foot seas.

No medical concerns were reported.

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-USCG-


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