The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard and two good Samaritan vessels rescued nine people from a pleasure craft taking on water 17 miles off South Pass near Venice, La., on Saturday evening.
Watch standers with Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a mayday relay at approximately 5 p.m., from the offshore supply vessel Roman Elie reporting that the 55-foot pleasure craft Strike Zone II was rapidly taking on water and was attempting to return to shore. The watch standers issued an urgent marine information broadcast, directed the launch of a Coast Guard Station Venice 45-foot response boat-medium boat crew and diverted a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to assist.
Roman Elie, as well as the motor vessel Family Therapy, responded to the scene to assist Strike Zone II, transferred some of the crew off the distressed vessel and provided emergency pumps.
The Coast Guard boat crew arrived on scene and took Strike Zone II in tow. The Coast Guard boat crew and Family Therapy safely brought the Strike Zone II crew and vessel back to Cypress Cove Marina in Venice with no reported injuries.
