A U.S. Coast Guard crew based in Massachusetts helped rescue 31 fishermen from a vessel that was sinking off the Canadian coast.A rescue center in Nova Scotia was notified at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday that the 143-foot vessel, "Atlantic Destiny," was disabled with a fire onboard and that the ship was taking on water more than 130 miles south of Halifax.Three crews from the Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, one plane and two helicopters, were launched and arrived at the scene.A Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter crew rescued six fishermen from the vessel and dropped off two search-and-rescue technicians to help get water off the vessel.The helicopter crews from Air Station Cape Cod hoisted another 21 fishermen to safety."In a helicopter, the hoisting environment and everything is inherently dynamic. However, when you throw in 30-foot seas and winds that are above 50 knots, it just becomes a crew coordination exercise to the level that we rarely get to see," said Coast Guard Lt. Travis Christy, of Air Station Cape Cod.Each of the 27 fishermen who were air-rescued was taken to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where they were transferred for medical assessment.The remaining four crew members, and the two Royal Air Force technicians, stopped their dewatering efforts and were transferred to a Canadian Coast Guard ship shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday. All of the fishermen are in good shape, according to Coast Guard officials.Officials say the "Atlantic Destiny" sank to the bottom of the ocean at 9:36 a.m. Wednesday.
A U.S. Coast Guard crew based in Massachusetts helped rescue 31 fishermen from a vessel that was sinking off the Canadian coast.
A rescue center in Nova Scotia was notified at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday that the 143-foot vessel, "Atlantic Destiny," was disabled with a fire onboard and that the ship was taking on water more than 130 miles south of Halifax.
Three crews from the Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, one plane and two helicopters, were launched and arrived at the scene.
A Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter crew rescued six fishermen from the vessel and dropped off two search-and-rescue technicians to help get water off the vessel.
The helicopter crews from Air Station Cape Cod hoisted another 21 fishermen to safety.
"In a helicopter, the hoisting environment and everything is inherently dynamic. However, when you throw in 30-foot seas and winds that are above 50 knots, it just becomes a crew coordination exercise to the level that we rarely get to see," said Coast Guard Lt. Travis Christy, of Air Station Cape Cod.
Each of the 27 fishermen who were air-rescued was taken to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where they were transferred for medical assessment.
The remaining four crew members, and the two Royal Air Force technicians, stopped their dewatering efforts and were transferred to a Canadian Coast Guard ship shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday.
All of the fishermen are in good shape, according to Coast Guard officials.
Officials say the "Atlantic Destiny" sank to the bottom of the ocean at 9:36 a.m. Wednesday.
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