Coast Guard rescues 4 from boat not meant for ocean
KEANSBURG, N.J. — A U.S. Coast Guard crew rescued four men in heavy seas aboard a 22-foot boat that shouldn't have been on the ocean.
Perth Amboy emergency dispatchers contacted Coast Guard Sector New York around noon Sunday, reporting that the pleasure craft was disabled in Raritan Bay with four people on board, according to information from the Coast Guard.
“This type of boat was designed to be operated on lakes, not the ocean,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Smith, a crewmember at Station Sandy Hook whose members performed the rescue.
“Before leaving the dock, you should always check the weather, file a float plan, check your lifesaving equipment and ensure your vessel is safe to be out on the water,” she said.
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The Coast Guard sent out its heavy weather boat crew to rescue the adrift boaters. They were stranded in 30-knot, roughly 35 mph winds, and 3- to 5-foot seas when rescuers arrived.
The Coast Guard returned the men, whose names weren't released, to Atlantic Highlands Marina, sheltered by Sandy Hook peninsula in Sandy Hook Bay, without any reported medical issues.
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However, the boat was left anchored in the ocean because of safety concerns.
Its owner arranged for a commercial salvage company to tow the boat when weather permits.
Follow Susanne Cervenka on Twitter: @scervenka