Fire aboard tug, barge injures two off Maine

The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
 
(BOSTON) — A Coast Guard aircrew is en route to medevac two injured crewmembers from a tug and barge that caught fire about 20 miles off the coast of Rockland, Maine, tonight.

Two crewmembers on the tug Everlast were injured when a fire broke out around 9:15p.m., in the boiler room aboard the barge.

Coast Guard Sector Northern New England received a radio call from the crew of the Everlast, a 108-foot Canadian tug, requesting medical transport for the two injured crewmembers.

A rescue helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod is scheduled to arrive on scene around 11 p.m., to hoist the injured crewmembers and transfer them to an area hospital.

The fire has been isolated and is under control.

Wind gusts are up to 20 miles per hour with sea swells around six feet.

“The crew of the Everlast had a radio on board the vessel and were able to call for help when they needed assistance,” said Petty Officer First Class Robert Duncan, an operation unit controller at Sector Northern New England.

 

By Professional Mariner Staff