U.S. Coast Guard rescues 5 after vessel allides with Savannah jetty

The Coast Guard rescued five people after the vessel they were on allided with the north Savannah jetties, Monday.

Crews aboard a Coast Guard Station Tybee Island 45-foot Response Boat-Medium and an Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin helicopter arrived on the scene, safely removed all five people from the vessel, transferred them to the RB-M, and were transported to Station Tybee Island in good condition.

At approximately 10:55 p.m. Monday, Coast Guard Sector Charleston watchstanders received a VHF Channel 16 report for TowBoat assistance from the Nauty Thoughts, a 57-foot motor yacht, crew stating they had struck the jetties and were aground and taking on water with five people aboard.

A Station Tybee Island RB-M boat crew and an Air Station Savannah Dolphin helicopter crew were directed to launch to assist. TowBoat Savannah personnel also launched to assist.

Once on scene, the Dolphin aircrew lowered a rescue swimmer who safely assisted the vessel’s passengers, who were all wearing life jackets, onto the RB-M.

The vessel lost stability rapidly and could not be salvaged by TowBoat Savannah. There were no reported injuries.