Coast Guard rescues 6 people from sinking boat off South Carolina shore

April 23, 2023

The crew from the Coast Guard Station in Charleston rescued six people from a boat taking in water about 15 miles offshore of Charleston Sunday.

Officials said they received a distress signal from the men on the 39-foot boat around 6:37 a.m. Sunday.

Sector Charleston watchstanders requested an Air Station Savannah aircrew launch from Charleston Executive Airport-JZI for air support as well.

The boat crew transferred one of their crewmembers to the boat with a dewatering pump in order to keep it afloat until it moored at the Safe Harbor City Boatyard, officials said.

The mariners were prepared by having a VHF-FM radio onboard to provide us an exact location to find them,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Frank Marrano, Coast Guard Station Charleston, search and rescue boat operator on the case. “Our crew trains weekly for these scenarios and ensures our dewatering pumps are operational at all times.

No injuries were reported.

“When going offshore, the Coast Guard recommends all mariners have onboard an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), personal locator beacon (PLB) and a ditch kit,” said Scott Szczepaniak, Coast Guard District 7 recreational boating safety specialist. “We recommend that all mariners should always wear their life jackets, but if you are not wearing your lifejacket and something goes wrong, the first thing you should do is put one on.”