VIDEO: USCG Rescues 11 from Sinking Tug off Oahu

zoom The U.S. Coast Guard Hawaii Pacific has coordinated the rescue of eleven people after a 95-foot towing vessel sank on Thursday, approximately two and half miles west of Barbers Point Harbor, Oahu. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center received a call at 3:13 PM local time from the pilot aboard the towing vessel Nalani stating their vessel was taking on water and they were in danger of sinking. The Coast Guard Cutter Kittiwake, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat homeported in Honolulu launched to the scene along with a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. Sector Honolulu sent out an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to Mariners notifying vessels in the area of the situation. The towing vessel Tiger 7 and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration patrol boat heard the UMIB and arrived on scene to assist. The crew of the NOAA vessel safely rescued 9 crew members, and the Tiger 7 crew rescued 2.No injuries were reported. The RBM arrived on scene shortly after the rescue and safely transferred all 11 survivors aboard and for transport back to Station Honolulu. The Coast Guard is conducting an investigation into the sinking and has begun interviews with the crew. The cause of the sinking is unknown and is under investigation. All 11 survivors were wearing lifejackets. Your browser does not support HTML5 video.