Three rescued from burning shrimp boat in Pamlico Sound
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Samaritans rescued three crew members from a burning shrimping vessel
near the Bluff Shoal in the Pamlico Sound on Friday, Aug. 6.
Crew members from the fishing vessel Lady Susie II safely removed all
three crew members from the 75-foot vessel, First Chance, after Coast
Guard watchstanders received calls at approximately 3:45 p.m. from
the crew aboard the North Carolina ferry Roanoke.
The Roanoke reported seeing heavy smoke to the northwest. At 3:57 p.m.,
the crew aboard the fishing vessel Lady Susie II also reported seeing
the vessel on fire.
Station Hatteras Inlet and Station Ocracoke launched crews on two
rescue boats after receiving the initial call. Station Ocracoke’s
24-foot rescue boat crew was the first on scene and found the fishing
vessel pilot house fully engulfed in flames.
Station Hatteras Inlet’s 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew arrived and then
transferred the three crew members of the fishing vessel to Far Creek
in Engelhard, N.C.
"The fishing vessel First Chance was still on fire at 7 p.m., but it is
of no danger to any other boats," said Petty Officer 1st Class Brian
Biefeld, Station Hatteras Inlet’s command duty officer.
The Coast Guard has established a safety zone in position 35 degrees
16.08 minutes north and 75 degrees 54.59 minutes west and will continue
to monitor the situation.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and under investigation.
