Crime & Safety

Boaters Rescued as Vessel Sinks Off Greenwich Coastline


Three boaters were rescued Sunday as the motor boat they were aboard began to sink in the waters off Great Captain's Island in Greenwich.

In a statement released late Sunday, Greenwich Police said marine units from Greenwich, Westchester County, Rye and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), responded to an area south of Great Captain’s Island on a report of a sinking vessel, at about 8:30 a.m. Sept. 29. A Westchester County Police helicopter unit also responded.

According to Greenwich Police, "There were three persons on the vessel at the time it began to sink. Wearing life jackets, two individuals entered the water and swam to the south shore of Great Captain’s Island. The owner remained with the stricken vessel." Great Captain's Island is a 17-acre tract about a mile offshore that is home to Greenwich's lighthouse.

"Westchester County PD aviation unit landed on the north shore of Great Captain’s Island to assess the individuals that had reached shore. The owner of the vessel was transferred aboard the Westchester County PD Marine Unit," according to the police statement. Police did not say how far the boaters swam to reach shore.

The trio, whose identities and hometowns, were not released by police, were evaluated by a Greenwich EMS Marine Paramedic that was onboard the Greenwich Police boat before being brought to the Greenwich Police dock in Greenwich Harbor.

Vessel was dewatered and towed by a private salvage company, according to police. Details on the size of the motor boat, its homeport or its registered owner were not immediately available.

The incident is being investigated by the Greenwich Police Marine Section which has initially determined "It appears at this time that the vessel took on water because the two main through hull bolts securing the transmission to the engine, failed." Police said there doesn't appear to be any violations on the part of the boaters.

Greenwich Police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray indicated there was some confusion because the boaters initially used a cell phone to call for help rather than the marine emergency VHF Channel 16.

Gray said, "As things progressed from bad to worse, a mayday was put out on the wrong channel, channel 8. All boaters are reminded that VHF channel 16 is the designated emergency channel that is monitored by police departments and the USCG. All calls for help or assistance should be initiated  on VHF channel 16 and can be switched to a non priority channel after this initial communication."


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