The U.S. Coast Guard rescued six people after a boat fire on the fishing vessel Three Girls led to them abandoning ship 105 nautical miles east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Aug. 11, 2024. U.S. Coast Guard Photo
The U.S. Coast Guard successfully rescued six individuals after a fire forced them to abandon their fishing vessel 105 nautical miles east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Sunday.
The fishing vessel Three Girls, an 81-foot trawler, had four crew members, the captain, and a NOAA observer onboard when the incident occurred. At 8:56 p.m., the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England command center received a mayday call from the Three Girls, reporting that the vessel was on fire and preparations were being made to abandon ship. Simultaneously, the First Coast Guard District command center received an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon from the vessel.
At 9 p.m., the Coast Guard diverted the fast response cutter USCGC William Chadwick (WPC – 1150) to respond to the emergency. An MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew and a HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod were launched to provide aerial support.
By 10:30 p.m., all Coast Guard assets, along with the Three Girls’ sister ship, the fishing vessel Princess Laura, had arrived on the scene. They confirmed that all six individuals were safely aboard a life raft. The William Chadwick deployed their small boat to recover the survivors, while the MH-60 Jayhawk remained on standby to provide immediate medical care if necessary.
At 11:30 p.m., all six survivors were safely recovered onboard the William Chadwick, with no major injuries reported. On Monday morning, the crew of the William Chadwick transferred the survivors to a pier in South Portland.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our crew’s swift response in this rescue,” said Lt. Cmdr. Brent Lane, commanding officer of the USCGC William Chadwick. “Their dedication and skill were crucial to the successful outcome, but it’s also a stark reminder of the importance of having the right safety equipment at all times. This rescue highlights that preparation and proper gear are as vital as the bravery and professionalism our team consistently displays.”
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