Three rescued after fishing boat capsizes off Louisiana

The US Coast Guard rescued three people after a fishing vessel capsized 40 miles (64 kilometres) offshore from Caillou Bay, Louisiana, in the Gulf of America, on Thursday, February 13.

Eighth Coast Guard District Command Center watchstanders received a satellite distress alert from the fishing vessel Anthony via the vessel’s emergency position-indicating radio locating beacon (EPIRB) at 08:30 local time on Thursday.

Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and diverted the coast guard Marine Protector-class patrol boat USCGC Yellowfin to search. A Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144B Ocean Sentry aircrew self-diverted to search.

The aircrew located a life raft in the vicinity of the partially submerged fishing vessel. Yellowfin then arrived on scene, located three individuals on the life raft, and brought them aboard.

No injuries were reported.

"The vessel’s properly registered EPIRB provided accurate coordinates, enabling our crews to pinpoint and reach these fishermen quickly,” said Scott Talbot, Eighth Coast Guard District Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator.