Coast Guard and a merchant vessel rescue three boaters in NC

The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan merchant vessel rescued three boaters Tuesday approximately 35 miles south of Fort Macon, N.C., the USCG said in a press release.

At noon Coast Guard Sector North Carolina command center watchstanders received a mayday call on VHF-FM channel 16 from the operator of the sailboat Reel Safe, reporting they were taking on water.

Sector watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and diverted a crew aboard a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter who were conducting training in the area to assist.

The captain of the 485-foot cargo ship Islandia received the UMIB and diverted the ship to assist.

The Islandia arrived on scene at approximately 1 p.m. and rescued the three boaters who had abandoned their vessel.

The Jayhawk crew arrived on scene at approximately 1:15 p.m., hoisted the boaters aboard the helicopter from the Islandia and took them to Coast Guard Sector Field Office Fort Macon.

There are no reports of injuries.